Two Thumbs Up for Green Move Out
Since 2000, Lafayette has participated in an annual Green Move Out event at the end of the spring semester. The Office of Sustainability helps orchestrate this campus-wide initiative through providing ways for students to recycle their unused or gently used household items by donating them to local charities. Last year Lafayette donated over 10,000 pounds of gently used clothing, books, and dorm goods at the end of the spring semester. Over 50 students, faculty, and staff volunteered to collect and sort donations.Katalin Fabian, Professor of Government and Law, explains, “The collection of donations is eye opening; there is so much food, books, clothing, and other useful items we can offer to those in need, and we can divert things such as shampoo from waste streams.”
Once all items are collected and sorted, charities come to “shop” through the goods. ProJeCt Easton, Safe Harbor of Easton, Third Street Alliance for Women and Children, and many more come to pick up essentials for their organizations.
Since its inception, Lafayette has diverted over 70,000 pounds of household items and furniture from the landfill and given them to those who need them most in the Easton community. EcoRep Emma Leeds ‘19, said, “Green Move Out is one of my favorite EcoRep initiatives because it connects Lafayette students, faculty, and staff with the Easton community in a way that is helpful for everyone involved.”
Accepted items for donations include gently used clothing, athletic gear, books, linen, housewares and non-perishable, unopened, unexpired food. Stained, broken, or worn-out items can be recycled at our three outdoor, metal collection bins. Accepted items for recycling include carpets, futon frames, wooden furniture, and couches.
Collections will take place April 27th through May 26th. We look forward to even more donations this year!
For more information, please visit our website at https://sustainability.lafayette.edu/green-move-out/ or feel free to email us at sustainability@lafayette.edu.