‘Chuck it for Charity’ Finds New Life for Unwanted Stuff During Move-Out

Students leaving the University of Virginia at the end of the academic term can donate their unwanted furniture, appliances, non-perishable food and clothing to local charities through the annual Chuck It for Charity program, to be held from Thursday through May 19.

The collection drive is offered to students living on and off Grounds, with drop-off sites set up during final exams. U.Va Recycling will collect usable donated items daily from each drop-off site and haul them to the Student Activities Building, where local charities will collect them.

The program started in 1999. Last year, it collected more than 18,000 pounds of materials on Grounds and took in more than 500 donations from off-Grounds, which were distributed among a variety of local charities.

“Chuck it for Charity is a great U.Va. tradition that exemplifies U.Va.’s commitment to community engagement and environmental stewardship,” said Nina Morris, sustainability program manager for outreach and engagement at Facilities Management. “Although we’ve been running Chuck it for Charity for more than 15 years, we are always looking for new ways to connect students and the community, divert even larger amounts of materials out of landfills and streamline the process to ensure that this program continues to grow.

U.Va. Recycling offers students free cardboard boxes during move-out, available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the U.Va. Recycling Warehouse, at the end of Leake Drive.

U.Va.’s Surplus Property Department will offer free “E-cycling” to faculty, staff and students, to dispose of personal electronic equipment at the Student Activities Building on May 8 and 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Disposal includes certified secure destruction of all resident data from eCycleSecure, the University’s provider of electronic recycling service for University-owned equipment. eCycleSecure will collect computers and computer equipment, including LCD monitors, laptops, tablets, printers, copiers and phones. Television sets and CRT monitors will not be accepted.

For a complete list of pick-up points and participating charities, click here.