As the academic year comes to a close, colleges face a sharp spike in waste production as dumpsters and curbs are piled with furniture, clothing, office supplies, bedding, and food during move-out. But if you plan ahead and opt for more sustainable choices, you can prevent waste and reduce the impact of your move! 

Donate, Sell, or Recycle Items  

Do you have items you no longer need or are unable to bring home with you? Find a way to donate, sell, or recycle those items instead of sending them to the landfill. And this is also a great time to be on the lookout for secondhand goods from others!  

One option is to donate to the annual Sustainable Hopkins Innovative Projects (SHIP) move-out collection drive. SHIP will have tables to collect unopened toiletries and nonperishable food items on May 10 from 4 – 6 PM, at the AMR II Bluejay Lounge and Wolman Lobby. These items will all be stored on campus or donated to local charities, so nothing will go to waste! 

For students living off-campus, the JHU Off-Campus Housing Office is organizing a Trash and Donation Pick-Up program for bulk items like furniture, clothing, and other items to be donated or that need to be trashed. After registering for a pick-up date, pack and label your items, put them outside with your trash, and they will come get them on the requested date. More details below: 

To register for this free service, click here to get more information and complete the registration form. Spots are limited, so you are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Priority will be given to those who register before May 9. Registration is required at least 3 business days prior to desired pick-up date. After the office receives your completed registration form, you will receive an email confirming the date of your pick-up and important information. Deadline to register for the last pick-up date is Monday, May 19 at 5 PM.    

For students living in commercial properties, if you have items to donate which you are able to transport to the Off-Campus Housing Office, you can email them a list of the items you want to donate by Tuesday, May 13 at 5 PM. Deadline to participate in this option is Friday, May 16 at 5 PM.    

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Off-Campus Housing Office via email ([email protected]) or call 410-516-7961. 

  • SOURCE – Depending on what you want to donate, SOURCE can help you locate a donation partner for items in good, lightly used condition.   
  • Furniture Bank – Connects good quality furniture to families and partners in need; currently seeking beds, floor lamps, and table lamps.   
  • Second Chance – Accepts items that are in good condition via drop-off or pick-up; also has a large resale warehouse. 
  • Thrift stores, e.g.: 

– Goodwill 

– Savers 

  • JHU Free and For Sale – A Facebook group for Hopkins students, faculty, and staff looking to list items either for free or for sale. 
  • Giveaway groups, e.g.: 

– Buy nothing Baltimore – A Facebook community for Baltimore residents looking to list goods for free. 

– BuyNothing Facebook groups or app – Sign up based on your city and neighborhood to see local offerings. 

– Freecycle – A network of local sharing groups aimed at reducing waste and building community.  

  • General neighborhood groups, e.g.: 

– Local neighborhood groups on Facebook   

– Nextdoor 

– Craigslist 

  • Online secondhand sites (e.g. ThredUp) 

Pack Sustainably

When you’re ready to pack up, use suitcases, duffle bags, and reusable containers when possible. Opt to protect your items using clothing, soft personal items, or recycled paper instead of bubble wrap and packing peanuts. If you need to purchase packing materials, consider more sustainable options like packing paper or honeycomb wrap, which can be recycled after use.

In the lead-up to your move, start saving boxes to use for packing. For example, if you get online groceries or meal kits delivered, consider saving the boxes and packing materials from your last few orders so you can have them on hand for move-out.  

Buy Nothing or neighborhood groups can be a great place to find free cardboard boxes and moving supplies in your area. Return the favor by relisting those supplies there once you are done with them or keep them in storage for your next move. Recycle any cardboard boxes that are no longer fit for reuse.