UW working to reduce move-out waste

Moving Days, Hippie Christmas, or just a giant mess — whatever you call it, the mid-August piles of discarded possessions overflowing Madison dumpsters and curbs include many that could be reused or recycled.

In an effort to reduce landfill waste and increase community benefit, the UW–Madison We Conserve program and Office of Sustainability are partnering with Goodwill and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to collect and donate reusable items.

After a successful pilot program last year, UW–Madison is hosting two “Donate and Take” sites where people can drop off useable goods or browse the donations for wanted items. Goodwill and St. Vincent de Paul donation centers will also be set up at seven campus-area parking lots and apartment buildings Aug. 11-14. Most clean and usable items will be accepted except mattresses, box springs, and large appliances. Locations and hours for all sites are listed below, or call Frank Kooistra at 608-216-6310 to schedule a pickup during Moving Days.

An e-waste recycling site will be set up in Lot 51 to accept electronics — working or not — including computers, monitors, TVs, phones, small appliances, and game systems.

The organizations are also soliciting volunteers to help staff the donation sites.

Drop-off locations:

• Donate & Take: UW–Madison Lot 92 (214 N. Brooks St.), UW Foundation (1848 University Ave.)
• St. Vincent de Paul: UW–Madison Lot 51 (North Mills and Spring streets), U-Haul parking lot (602 W. Washington Ave.)
• Goodwill: Grand Central, Pres House, Equinox, Palisades, Embassy apartment buildings
• E-waste recycling site: UW–Madison Lot 51 (North Mills and Spring streets)

All sites will be open:

Aug. 11, 1-5 p.m.

Aug. 12, 1-7 p.m.

Aug. 13, 11-7 p.m.

Aug. 14 10 a.m.-2 p.m.