When the Park Rangers in San Mateo County needed supplies and furniture for their shop at San Bruno Mountain, they didn’t head to a retailer, they turned to the Surplus Property Program. From lockers and safety gear storage to office furniture, mirrors, and tables, Rangers were able to upgrade their workspace with reused items from all over the County.

“These items have saved us a couple of thousand dollars which I know I don’t have in my budget. We love to save items going into the landfill.” — Priscilla Alvarez, County of San Mateo Parks Supervisor 

What is the Surplus Property Program?

In San Mateo County, sustainability isn’t just about recycling bins or beach cleanups, it’s also about making intentional, community-focused choices with the resources we already have. One of the most innovative examples of this is the Surplus Property Program, within the County’s Sustainability Department. Surplus demonstrates one of the Four Rs in action: Reuse. By giving items a second life, we reduce waste before even thinking about recycling or composting.

Every year, County departments accumulate desks, chairs, filing cabinets, office supplies, and equipment that are no longer needed. Rather than sending these items to landfill or paying to dispose of them, the Surplus Property Program makes them available to other County departments, schools, nonprofits, and community partners, completely free of charge. The program also supports the facilitation and redistribution of items from partner organizations, in some cases.  

In summer 2025 alone, 1,281 items were repurposed by the Surplus Program and reused by partner organizations and County departments.  

A Win for Budgets, and Our Planet

In addition to reducing waste, the Surplus Property Program delivers two major benefits: 

1. It saves taxpayer money. Departments avoid disposal fees and reduce the need for new purchases. Meanwhile, community partners furnish their spaces without spending on new equipment.
2. It supports our local community organizations. Schools, shelters, libraries, health centers, and other organizations can redirect savings to programming, staffing, and direct community member services. 

“The Surplus Property Program is an important tool for reducing waste and maximizing resources across the County. By redistributing surplus items for reuse, the program helps lower disposal costs, minimizes environmental impacts, and provides tangible benefits to the departments and community.”  — Shova Ale Magar, Surplus Property Program Manager

At each “Shopping Day” in 2024, there were an average of 12 community organizations at each event, all coming to shop for reusable items. 

2025 Highlights So Far

Reuse from the County Cordilleras Health Center (January 2025)

When the Cordilleras Health Center Project at the County of San Mateo needed to redistribute usable items from the original 3-story building, the Surplus Property team stepped in. San Mateo County Health loves supporting reuse efforts and has enjoyed collaborating with the Surplus Property team. Read more about the new mental health facility. 

“County Health believes sustainability should be woven into every construction project that the County embarks upon and that every effort should be made to reuse what is usable and minimize items sent to landfills. We appreciate all the work the Sustainability Department puts into making sure we can achieve this goal.” — Peter Shih, Health Services Manager 

Items from this project were used by various County departments and local partner organizations. The County Park Rangers reused raised beds from the facility and turned them into garden beds. 

Upgraded Hoover School Library (March 2025)

This spring, the Hoover School in Redwood City remodeled their school library with reused items from the Belmont Public Library, redistributed by the Surplus Property team.  

Surplus Shopping Day with Ramada Hotel Items (July 2025)

The County of San Mateo acquired a former hotel in South San Francisco in order to turn it into a permanent supportive housing site. The Surplus team was tasked with redistributing and repurposing the items from the multi-story building. They offered items up not only to the County and partner organizations, but to the public, as well. From mattresses to desks to ironing boards, everyone was able to find something they could put to use. The Rangers found practical items for their day-to-day needs, such as mirrors, benches, and even small appliances for their locker rooms. See this CBS news segment for a deeper dive!  

From this former hotel, the program has been able to reuse 857 items, which is 84% of total items!  

How to Get Involved in the Surplus Property Program

For nonprofit, school, or community organizations: 

Each partner receives items tailored to their needs. You can receive free quality items for your space by joining our partner network.  

How to become a Community Partner: 

• Request items via GovDeals 

• Attend a future Surplus Shopping Day 

For County departments with extra equipment or furniture: 

Keep materials in circulation by contacting the Surplus Program through Service Now. It’s easy, cost-effective, and supports the County’s sustainability goals. 

“It’s a simple way to save resources, reduce waste, and make a real impact on our community and the environment.” — Shova Ale Magar 

The Surplus Property Program is a simple idea with powerful outcomes: take what’s already available and give it new life where it’s needed most. For more information, visit Surplus Property Program – Sustainability Department – San Mateo County.