Reuse is inspired from the reuse mailing list and continues to facilitate the exchange of used items between MIT community members. The mobile app alleviates the number of emails users receive on the mailing list by changing the service into an opt-in system rather than a push system: MIT community members will no longer receive an email for every item posted and claimed, but will still be able to view reuse items.

The app introduces the notion of claim codes, which securely facilitates the claiming of an item. Users receive a claim code upon posting an item that they write down and leave with the physical item. When another user arrives to take the item, they enter the claim code to remove the item from the reuse list. This prevents a user from claiming an item before retrieving it to prevent others from seeing it.

Reuse also has filtering and editing features to improve convenience of the app for both claimers and posters, as well as a map interface for users to view nearby items or to help find items in obscure locations. The app uses Firebase as a data store for real-time and persistent updates, Google Maps Activity to display item locations, and Cloudinary for uploading item images.