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UI move-out donation diverts over two tons of reusable items from landfill

UI move-out donation diverts over two tons of reusable items from landfill

UI students Emil Hannesson and Zach Carter load a futon during the UIOWA Year-end Move-out Donation Drive. Both are members of the student project team that organized the waste reduction effort.

May 13, 2011

Over two tons of household items and clothes were diverted from the Iowa City Landfill, thanks in part to a University of Iowa student sustainability class project.

As UI students and their parents loaded cars and trucks with personal belongings acquired over nine months of living on campus, student volunteers were happy to help carry and collect  unwanted items that could be reused.

“I was really impressed at how organized the students were,” said Jennifer Jordan, recycling coordinator for the City of Iowa City. “Their efforts were able to divert thousands of pounds of  reusable materials to local agencies and most importantly, keep these items out the landfill.”

The student waste reduction project was led by Andrea Uhl, a senior who will pursue a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning at UI this fall.

"I am so happy that our class project was able to make the University a little bit more sustainable," said Uhl. "I was also so pleased by how excited everyone from the community and the  University was to help us make this happen!"

Uhl and her team members brought together representatives from Goodwill of the Heartland, Habitat Restore, the Crisis Center, UI Housing, UI Office of Sustainability and UI Facilities Management. The two-day event netted 750 pounds of clothing, shoes and linens; 1300 pounds of small appliances such as televisions, microwaves and refrigerators; and over 2900 pounds of futons, tables and chairs that will be distributed by the local non-profit agencies.

"The commitment of these students to the environment and to the community is tremendous,” stated Dana Engelbert, vice president of marketing for Goodwill of the Heartland. “Goodwill is very fortunate to be among the recipients of their work."

“This was a great effort by our students that sets a standard for next year,” said Liz Christiansen, director of the UI Office of Sustainability. “Finals and move-out is such a busy time on our campus. It’s impressive that UI Housing and the students made it a priority to reduce waste.”  

The 2020 Sustainability Targets include a 60 percent waste diversion goal for the University. For more information about the UI 2020 Vision, visit http://sustainability.uiowa.edu.

Media contact: Liz Christiansen, liz-christiansen@uiowa.edu, 319-335-5516.