Donation and recycling encouraged during August moving days

Belongings somebody didn’t want are gathered at a donate-and-take station during August moving days last year. Photo: Office of Sustainability

When old leases expire and new ones start in mid-August, many renters decide not to move unwanted furniture, clothing and other items to their new homes, instead just abandoning them on the curb in the annual ritual known as moving days.

This year, there’s a better option.

From Aug. 12 to 17, there will be several sites where individuals can donate their unwanted items and take what they need for free. These sites also will host nonperishable food collection bins for The Open Seat food pantry and an e-waste recycling drop-off.

The UW–Madison Office of Sustainability and We Conserve are partnering with the City of Madison, The Open Seat, Goodwill Industries and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to collect and recycle as much as possible at the sites with the goal of diverting usable items from the landfill. They include:

A donate-and-take site at UW–Madison Lot 45, 165 N. Mills St., will accept clothing, furniture and other household items. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 12, 13, 15 and 16; from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 14; and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 17. In addition, working and nonworking electronics can be taken to Lot 45 for e-waste recycling. Most items with a cord or batteries can be accepted, including computers, monitors, phones, small appliances, game systems and TVs.
St. Vincent de Paul will have a donation site in the U-Haul parking lot at 602 W. Washington Ave. that will be open from 1 to 7 p.m. Aug. 12, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 13; and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 14.
Goodwill has collection bins in several downtown high-rise apartment buildings, including The Embassy, The Equinox, Varsity Quarters, Grand Central, 420 Gorham, X01, Humbucker, La Ville, Park Regent and Vantage Point.

At all these sites, most clean and usable items can be donated, including furniture, clothing, shoes, books, household items, small appliances, sealed nonperishable food, and other unopened packages (such as toiletries, toothpaste, dish soap, etc.).