Students Give Back to the Community and Environment Through ‘Hoos ReUse’

Later this month, thousands of University of Virginia students will move out of on- and off-Grounds housing on their way out of town for the summer. Some will return in the fall to continue their studies, while others will walk the Lawn during Final Exercises.

As part of this collective exodus, students will sift through and likely discard possessions that could end up in a landfill.

In the spirit of UVA’s passion for both sustainability and giving back to the community, an alternative means of disposing of these goods has emerged: “Hoos ReUse.”

Formerly known as “Chuck it for Charity,” Hoos ReUse begins Wednesday and continues through May 23. The program, which started in 1999, provides students the opportunity to donate items including appliances, non-perishable food, clothing and furniture to local charities.

Hoos ReUse has achieved consistent growth over the past couple of years. During the 2016 campaign, students contributed more than 29,000 pounds of goods. Between 2013 and 2015, the goods donated by students each year tripled from 8,842 pounds to 26,240 pounds.

The collection drive is offered to students living on and off Grounds, with drop-off sites set up during final exams. UVA Recycling collects usable donated items daily from each drop-off site and hauls them to the Student Activities Building, where local non-profits (including the Shelter for Help in Emergency, Loaves and Fishes food pantry, Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, the Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA, the Alliance for Interfaith Ministries and The Salvation Army) will collect items.

In addition, UVA Recycling offers students free cardboard boxes to use during move-out, available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the UVA Recycling Warehouse, located at the end of Leake Drive near Observatory Hill.

“Over the past three years, Hoos ReUse has diverted over 63,433 pounds of usable goods out of landfills and into the hands of those who need it most in the Charlottesville region,” said Nina Morris, sustainability manager for UVA’s Outreach & Engagement Office of Sustainability. “This program is sustainability at its best because it reduces environmental impacts, saves money and provides a valuable service to our community. We’re grateful to the many community and University partners who work together to put the Hoos ReUse program together and continue to expand its impact.”

Additionally, UVA’s Surplus Property Department will offer free “E-cycling,” allowing faculty, staff and students to dispose of personal electronic equipment at the Student Activities Building from Wednesday through May 13, from 8 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 the complete list of pick-up points located on-Grounds and off-Grounds, visit the Hoos ReUse website.