Groups partner to reduce waste during August move-out

In collaboration with St. Vincent de Paul and Dumpster Diving Revolution, Student United Way has designated numerous areas for University of Wisconsin–Madison students moving in and out of apartments to donate unwanted items to local community organizations.

To minimize the amount of materials going into landfills during the move-out and move-in process, collection points will be set up around campus for students to deposit items such as unwanted clothing and furniture.

Caitlin MacCoun, head of Student United Way, notes that teams will also be traveling with carts and in trucks to collect donations around the city.

“The idea for collection originally began as a yard sale,” she explains. “But collection sites will better serve our purpose of minimizing waste throughout the weekend.”

Student United Way is a student-run version of United Way. Like its parent organization, Student United Way focuses on volunteering, fundraising, and advocating specifically in the areas of health, education, and income.

Another student organization engaged in the project is Dumpster Diving Revolution, started by a groups of students who found clean and valuable items when dumpster diving for apartment furnishings.

University Housing has been instrumental in bringing together the city of Madison, St. Vincent de Paul, Dumpster Diving Revolution and Student United Way to help movers donate items they might otherwise discard. They will be supplying the carts that will hold donations.

“With the hectic rush of moving out, it’s sometimes too much of a hassle to donate reusable items,” says Andrew Bose of Dumpster Diving Revolution. “This event is convenient for students and hopefully will make others more mindful of whether or not what they’re throwing away could be used by someone else.”

Items will be collected on the following days and times:

• Friday, Aug. 12, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 13, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Carts will be located at the following locations:

• St. James Church, 1128 St. James Court
• Behind Holy Redeemer Church, 120 W. Johnson St.
• Behind McDonald’s, UW Lot 51, Mills Street.

Dumpster Diving Revolution is also collecting items from students directly at Equinox and the Palisades apartment complexes.

If any of these locations are inconvenient, call 608-692-3911 to schedule a direct pick up.