The Goodwill, Not Landfill initiative ensures unwanted student belongings are sent to a local Boston nonprofit instead of a landfill. Photo by Chris McIntosh for BU Sustainability

Sustainability

Donate Unwanted Goods During Move-Out and Help Serve Your Community

BU Sustainability’s Goodwill, Not Landfill Initiative gives student possessions to local Boston charities

When you’re able to break out of the finals season haze and realize you don’t know what to do with dozens of sweaters, a full-length mirror, and a three-inch mattress topper before you move across the country for the summer, here’s a news flash—BU Sustainability has made donating easy. 

The Goodwill, Not Landfill initiative ensures unwanted student belongings are sent to Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries—a local Boston nonprofit established in 1895 by Rev. Edgar J. Helms (STH 1893, Hon.’40)—instead of a landfill or incinerator. Last year, 225,000 pounds of items were donated, helping BU’s overall waste reduction. 

Sarah Healey, zero waste manager at BU Sustainability, says that while about 8 percent of all waste generated during the year comes from the Move-Out period, waste at the University has decreased by about 46 percent since 2006. “Last year, we saw a 20-ton decrease in our trash,” Healey says. What’s more, the donated items were sent to Morgan Memorial Goodwill and distributed to the local community. “That ties together that environmental piece as well as the social justice piece of sustainability,” Healey says. 

Clothes and home goods

Students have until the end of Move-Out to donate clothing, shoes, accessories, small appliances, and furnishings. Ripped, dirty, and stained bedding and clothing will have separate spaces at each donation center, so they can be recycled. Following the launch of a pilot program this past winter with the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter to redirect textiles to local nonprofits for reuse, Healey says Sustainability is hoping to expand the initiative in collaboration with the School of Theology’s Faith & Ecological Justice Program.  

Food and toiletries

If you can’t take home those boxes of unopened cereal or granola bars in your drawers, the BU Food Pantry is accepting nonperishables, unopened food items, and toiletries. Healey says Sustainability has a goal of diverting 1,000 pounds of nonperishables to the Food Pantry; about 600 pounds were donated last year. “Although it’s not a huge number within the [number] of material we move, I think it’s a really important number because that stuff is impacting our direct community,” Healey says. 

Donation bins are located at each major residence building, including Kilachand Hall, 150 Riverway, and 610 Beacon Street. Find the full list of drop-off locations below.

Last year, Goodwill, Not Landfill included outdoor drop-off locations near South Campus. This year, staffed drop-off containers will expand to Bay State Road from May 7 to May 19, primarily between 2 and 6 pm. 

There are donation bins at Rich Hall, Sleeper Hall, Claflin Hall, Warren Towers, 610 Beacon St., Kilachand Hall, The Towers, 1019 Commonwealth Ave., Danielsen Hall, 10 Buick St., 33 Harry Agganis Way, HoJo Dormitory, 150 Riverway, 516-522 Park Drive, and 890 Commonwealth Ave.

Outdoor drop-off locations include 172 Bay State Road, 199 Bay State Road, 29 Buswell St., 504 Park Drive, 509 Park Drive, and 2 Buswell St.

Bins will be open May 7, 8, 9, and 17, from 2 pm to 6 pm; May 10 and 19, from 8 am to noon; and May 18, from 6 to 10 pm.

Swaps

While students have been able to swap or take items from bins during the Move-Out process, Sustainability has created a formal policy to ensure operational efficiency. Item exchange runs on a “give one, take one” policy. Students are not allowed to dig through or dump out bins or loiter at donation areas to wait for specific items. Family members must be accompanied by a BU student at all times. Faculty and staff may not take items from the donation area.  

As part of a new initiative, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to take items, from outdoor drop-off locations only, on May 12. Items are first come, first served, with no holds allowed, and participants are limited to five items per person. Participants must have their BU ID on hand. 

Faculty and staff participation day will be May 12.

29 Buswell St., 504 Park Drive., 509 Park Drive, and 2 Buswell St. will be open from 1 to 5 pm for faculty and staff.

172 Bay State Road and 199 Bay State Road will be open from 2:30 to 5 pm for faculty and staff.

Bikes

The BU Cycle Kitchen (BUCK) will also offer a bicycle and scooter storage and surrender service. Summer storage is $25, including a refundable $25 deposit. Only current students can store their bikes or scooters. Surrendered vehicles will either be used for future BUCK programs or donated to local charities. 

Bicycle and scooter storage and surrender drop-off will be at the Booth Plaza at 820 Commonwealth Ave., on May 2, 3, 9, and 10, from 2 to 5 pm. Pickup will be at the Booth Plaza on September 5, 6, 12, and 13, from 2 to 5 pm.

After items are donated, they are sent to a distribution center in Roxbury, where they are stored, processed, and then distributed to 15 Goodwill stores in Greater Boston, including the Commonwealth Avenue location, says James Harder, director of communications and public affairs at Morgan Memorial Goodwill. Harder says donations also help to support Goodwill’s mission of providing jobs to those who face barriers in securing employment.

“This is a really significant partnership for us,” Harder says. “It dates back to 2009, so it has a long history. You’re extending the life of a donation and you’re making it available for someone who you know needs it.”