Student founded app Hazaar has thought of a new way to reduce waste during the summer months, when first year students at the University of Birmingham begin to move out of their accommodation.
Hazaar ‘drop off points’ have been dotted around The Vale, where most first year students at the University live, and students have been encouraged to leave anything they do not want when moving out. These items will then be listed on the app and re-home to new first year students in September.
‘A new home’
The official Hazaar Instagram shared images from move out weekend at UoB last year. They said: ‘Everything in the images went straight to landfill, despite the fact most of the items were in good condition and could’ve been given a new home.’
Hazaar accepts clothes, textbooks, household items, fancy dress, costumes and any other items that can be used by others. They do not accept food, rubbish, and any items that someone else would not want or be able to use.
‘One step at a time, together, we can reduce the amount of unnecessary waste we create & live more sustainable lives in a completely hassle free & low cost way,’ the post reads.
What is Hazaar?
Hazaar is the UK’s first zero waste student marketplace app and was created by UoB alumnus Harriet Noy. Originally beginning as a Facebook group by the name of ‘Bepop,’ it quickly grew and was rebranded as Hazaar.
The premise, that students could post pictures of clothes they no longer wanted and someone else could buy them, was simple and environmentally friendly, as it meant that shipping costs were cut out. Instead of packaging and sending the items, students would meet up on campus to exchange money for the goods.
Eventually, Harriet decided to develop a Hazaar app. The app first launched in Birmingham, and over February and March 2022, the app launched in Leeds, Liverpool, Bristol, Nottingham, Manchester, Swansea, and Cardiff.
But how does the app actually work? Once you buy an item, you will be given a unique QR code which will be stored on your profile. When you meet up with the seller, they scan your QR code, which releases the money from you to the seller.
