University of Colorado Boulder
Tier2-6: Move-Out Waste Reduction

As students move out of the Residence Halls on the CU Boulder campus, they leave behind many usable items they do not wish to carry with them to their next homes. To prevent these "Reusable Items" from entering the landfill and to put them back to use, CU Recycling holds a "Reusable Items Drive" in all 23+ Residence Halls during student Move Out. A donation station is set up in the lobby of each residence hall that includes bins for Reusable Items, Non Perishable Foods, and Personal Care Products. In 2010, we worked with Salvation Army to collect the materials from the Halls and distribute them through their thrift stores. The Personal Care Products and Non Perishable Foods are collected by CU Recycling and taken to the Boulder County Homeless Shelter. Cinder blocks and futon frames are captured to be either reused or recycled with scrap metal or scrap wood. Spare Change collection jugs are placed at the Residence Hall offices, with the proceeds going to various beneficiaries each year (Globe Med was the 2010 beneficiary). CU Recycling also provides staff to consolidate the stations each day in order to make it easy for Salvation Army to collect all the Reusable Items. The "Reusable Items Donation Stations" are set up for 2 weeks and are taken down on the last day of finals.

Weight Totals of Materials Captured during the Move Out Reusable Items Drive: - Reusable Items: 15,354 lbs. - Personal Care Products: 278 lbs. - Non Perishable Food: 450 lbs. - Spare Change: $136