News

Moving? Programs make recycling, reusing easy

August 26, 2010

The end of summer means one thing for most UC Davis students: moving. 

Whether it’s out of an apartment or into a campus residence hall, relocating all of your stuff sometimes means leaving things behind that don’t fit into a moving truck or the new place.

But “pack it” or “trash it” are not your only options, thanks to programs on campus and in the Davis community that help make swapping, donating and recycling extra belongings as easy as throwing them away.

“Think of the piles of household goods and packing materials that are left over when you move,” said Lin King, program manager for campus waste reduction and recycling. “Finding a way to reuse or recycle is especially important when moving to prevent sending it all to the landfill – and these programs help make that easy,” he said.

Donation stations

Now through Sept. 1, many apartment complexes throughout the city of Davis have “donation stations” set up to help residents moving out leave behind their reusable goods instead of dumping them in a trash can. 

“The most environmentally responsible thing you can do when you move is to make sure that your unwanted items in good condition are reused,” wrote Jennifer Gilbert, sustainability coordinator with the city of Davis, in an e-mail.

The extra furniture, appliances, clothing and other household items left at the donation stations are available for other residents and nonprofit organizations to take and reuse. 

Though the tradition of “moving day” in Davis has sometimes included leaving belongings on sidewalks for anyone to scavenge, the practice is not encouraged and is considered illegal dumping. 

Because the donation stations are located on private property, only residents of that particular apartment complex are able to use its donation station for dumping, and other community members should seek permission before entering the property to take items from the donation station.

If you have extra furniture or other household goods but do not have access to a donation station, another option is to contact local thrift stores to find out how to donate.

Moving to campus

Students moving to campus Sept. 18-19 can take part in the annual move-in recycling drive. Cardboard boxes, styrofoam and other packing materials can be recycled at each residence hall complex. 

"Trash bins used to fill up quickly during moving days, but now UC Davis students recycle thousands of pounds of materials," said Patrice Stafford, sustainability coordinator, with student housing, which coordinates the move-in recycling drive along with campus grounds and solid waste divisions.



"As soon as they arrive on campus, students are introduced to waste diversion and other campus sustainability programs, like reusable water bottles," Stafford said.

Large signs and helpful volunteers will help point student movers (and their families) toward these special recycling bins. Standard recycling – including mixed paper, bottles and cans – will also be available.

During the three-day move-in recycling drive in fall 2009, students recycled 58 percent of their unwanted household goods including approximately 10,000 pounds of cardboard.

For more tips about how to move sustainably, visit sustainability.ucdavis.edu/action/moving.