‘Tis the season of parsimonious trash as students head home for the summer. Left behind are the traces of the hard-to-kick habit of overconsumption, resulting in an increase of waste taken to the landfill. In the mad dash to move out, college students often discard tons of reusable items which end up in the dumpster. In an effort to reduce the amount of waste taken to the landfill several university and college communities across the U.S. and Canada are challenging the concept of trash for the benefit of local communities and the earth. Here are a few examples:

Florida State University - Chuck It for Charity
The University’s Sustainable Campus Initiative, for the second year in a row, sponsored the “Chuck It for Charity” event. The program provided an outlet for students to dispose of their stuff rather than sending it to the dump. In return, the items gathered were donated to charity. Last year 12,000 pounds of materials were collected and saved from the landfill. This year, FSU hoped to collect 20,000 pounds.

Virginia Tech & Radford University – Ytoss?
For the fifth year in a row, the YMCA at Virginia Tech offered the annual move-out recycling drive, Ytoss? Virginia Tech and Radford University students donated used household items, clothes, furniture, appliances, and food. Materials are cleaned and stored and will be sold on both campuses in August. (The food will be donated to local charities) The money raised will be donated to support the YMCA. In the past four years, 74 tons of materials have been diverted from the landfill.

Texas State University, San Marcos – Pack It Up, Pass It On
Texas State University, San Marcos held the annual recycling event that allowed students and the community to donate usable items. The “Pack It Up, Pass It On” program diverts more than seven tons of items from landfills. In addition, a local food drive was held through which hundreds of pounds of food and thousands of items were collected and donated to local charities.

Luther College (IA) – Trash into Treasure
For the sixth year in a row, Luther College hosted the Trash into Treasure sale. Students donated unwanted items during move out day that were sold to members of the campus and local community. Items that did not sell were donated to the Depot Outlet, a non-profit secondhand store. Last year the College saved five tons of usable items from going to the landfill.
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University of Victoria (BC) - Residential Move Out**
University of Victoria partnered with the Salvation Army to reduce the amount of materials dumped into the garbage during the student move out period. The University created a brochure containing recycling information for residence move outs and spring cleaning. In addition, the brochure contains a highly detailed map of recycling drop off points.
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University of Cincinnati (OH) – Re-Use Market**
At the end of the spring semester, University of Cincinnati students hold the annual Re-Use Market. Students recycle and provide furniture, clothing, electronics, and household items to fellow students and community members for free. Items not adopted are given to local charities. The Re-Use Market will run for a week in June.