Boston University
OP-T2-43: Move-Out Waste Reduction

In order to reduce waste during the move-out period, Boston University has partnered with Goodwill Industries since spring 2010. The program gives students the opportunity to donate unwanted goods to Goodwill during the last month of the academic year. Collection bins are placed in fifteen convenient locations throughout campus so that students may have easy access to drop-off areas. Goodwill collects clothing and other goods from each location and then sells those items in stores to support important local job training and youth programs. Goodwill, not Landfill is now implemented at the end of each semester to capture all the good stuff students leave behind when they move out of their dorms. The Goodwill, not landfill sustainability@BU move-out program diverted 38.66 tons of good stuff from landfills in 2010 (35.24 tons in spring and 3.42 in fall). The fall 2010 diversion rate was a five-fold increase from the previous year. Since May 2009 this program has diverted 87 tons of clothing, electronics, and housewares from the landfill.