About CUCCR
CUCCR (Concordia University’s Center for Creative Reuse) is dedicated to diverting materials from inside Concordia’s waste-stream and offering them to the general community free of cost.
Our journey
CUCCR was founded in March 2017, inspired by Anna Timm-Bottos’s master’s research in Art Education. With seed funding from Concordia’s Big Hairy Ideas competition and support from the Sustainability Action Fund, Environmental Health & Safety, and Facilities Management, Arrien Weeks joined the project to transform an 800-square-foot storage cage in the Henry F. Hall Building into the first Used Material Depot.
What began as a grassroots experiment quickly grew into a campus-wide resource.
In late 2019, CUCCR expanded into a larger depot space in the Grey Nuns Building.
Today, CUCCR is part of the Office of Sustainability’s reuse programming, a growing set of campus-wide initiatives that advances circular economy practices across Concordia. Together, our reuse initiatives reduce waste, lower costs, increase access to resources, and make sustainability tangible and accessible in everyday campus life.
What we offer
The Office of Sustainability’s reuse programming currently includes:
Our impact
All materials distributed through CUCCR originate from Concordia sources. Offices, studios, departments, labs, and campus events generate surplus materials; by focusing on this internal stream, we directly support Concordia’s Sustainability Action Plan (2020–2025) targets.
By tracking materials taken, CUCCR records both environmental and financial impacts. Among recent figures:
Over 46 metric tons of materials diverted from landfill since launch
Approximately $500,000 in avoided costs through free reuse
In 2024–2025 alone, the Grey Nuns depot diverted ~11,357 kg and saved the community over $113,600
Beyond metrics, CUCCR functions as a space of learning and collaboration. Skill-shares, maker events, classroom partnerships, and cross-departmental collaborations are central to our mission. The Reuse Program transforms waste reduction from a behind-the-scenes operation into a visible, participatory campus culture.
Join us
CUCCR is built on community collaboration. Our spaces are free and open to students, faculty and staff.
Ways to get involved:
Becoming a member
Volunteering at the Used Material Depot
Supporting Reclaim-a-Thon and other reuse events
Advocating for reuse within your department
Hosting low-waste events using the Dish Project
Shopping or supporting the FRIPE Thrift Pilot
Contributing financially to strengthen long-term operations
In case you didn't know, CUCCR was inspired by our founder Anna's master's research.
Seeing the Potential: A Canadian Creative Reuse Centre Case-Study
By Anna Timm-Bottos
