Every June, students moving out of our residential halls leave behind memories of late-night study sessions, laughter, and friendships that will last a lifetime. But they also leave behind plenty of waste, furniture, and other items that would ordinarily go to a landfill, which is why Sustainable Move Out was held this year for the first time.
Sustainable Move-Out events took place over two weeks at multiple locations on The Hill and North Village. Staff and volunteers collected and sorted through droves of donations to see what could be reused and given a new life. Items such as furniture and housewares went to the UCLA Thrift Shop and St. Joseph Center which helps the unhoused. Large bags of towels and blankets were designated for Los Angeles Animal Services. Other items like mini-fridges will be stored and given to students in the fall.
In addition to Housing & Hospitality, several units within Administration contributed to making the major effort a success. Sustainability coordinated with numerous on- and off-campus partners such as student organizations, Government & Community Relations, Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky’s office, and LA Sanitation to dispose of items that couldn’t be donated. Housing promoted the event to students and provided staff to clean out dorms and transport the items. Facilities Management furnished trucks, tables, and chairs. Transportation assisted with a donation site next to Parking Lot 36.
“The donation drives were so popular that organizers received requests to expand the program next year,” Brianna Moncada, the sustainability manager for Housing & Hospitality, told the UCLA Newsroom. “Students and parents appreciated the convenient drop-off location for donating unwanted items.”
Sustainable Move Out helps the campus achieve its Zero Waste goals by reducing waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill. It also keeps the community clean by preventing bulky items such as furniture and appliances from cluttering city curbs.
