Waste Not, Want Not

THANKS TO A $98,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, University of Portland has launched a sustainability initiative that takes aim at the waste created by students moving out of dorms. The “Move UP: Reduce and Reuse” program will collect items that are thrown away in the spring, making them available to students in the fall.

“UP students genuinely care about sustainability, but often don’t know where to start,” said Ruth Dittrich, an associate professor of economics and the project’s lead. “The Move UP project will give our students a clear, easy way to take action. By donating and reusing these items, we can significantly reduce waste, lower costs for students, and build a more sustainable campus community.”

Complications around move out have dogged the campus for years. In the past, the University has placed 10 giant dumpsters around campus during the week. And they had to empty them every other day, which cost the school roughly $10,000. This was to dispose of items that were, on the whole, perfectly fine.

Under the new two-year program, student workers will collect reusable items during the week when students are moving out of the residence halls, store them over the summer, and then make them available through an online inventory where incoming students can purchase them at a discount. Need a mini-fridge? A homey lamp to read by? How about a papasan chair or plush bean bag to lounge in? Students (and parents) should check this store before searching elsewhere online.

There were collection stations in each dorm and at other convenient spots around campus, where students accepted the goods, which also included clothing, bedding, unopened food, and personal care products. Any items that can’t be resold will be donated to community organizations, further extending their life.

“This is not only going to reduce waste,” Dittrich said, during her PilotTalk in the spring. “It’s going to make moving a more affordable experience, which is something that I’ve realized students deeply care about.”

Move UP hopes to reduce waste by up to 15 percent year-over-year, while developing a financially sustainable model that can continue after the grant funding ends in two years.

If you’d like to learn more about the program or check out the inventory in the fall, visit sites.up.edu/moveup.