The University of Central Florida aimed to donate or recycle as much as possible of several tons of unwanted items from students moving out of on-campus residence halls. Items in good condition were donated today to the Bithlo-Christmas Neighborhood Center for Families.
“About 100 individuals showed up today to look through and take home the donated goods. Our clients really need these things, especially the appliances, and they look forward to this event each spring and fall,” said Roxie Webster of Bithlo-Christmas Neighborhood Center for Families. Ten families were waiting when the UCF truck arrived, one hour before the center’s doors opened to clients.
“UCF has been a wonderful partner for many years,” Webster added.
UCF’s popular Student Move-Out Recycling Program happens at the end of each semester, when more than 5,000 students vacate their UCF dwellings.
“UCF saves money, we help save the environment by keeping these items out of the waste stream and we help families in desperate need. It’s a win-win for everyone,” said Brian Wormwood of UCF Facilities Operations.
During the two-week move-out period, no trash receptacles are available, forcing students to place all unwanted items into recycling roll-offs. The roll-offs are managed by UCF contractor Gel Recycling, which separates all items by recyclable materials, trash and items that can be donated.
UCF achieved a 42 percent recycling rate during this spring’s move-out period from April 21 to May 5.
Now in its ninth year, the move-out program is part of a university recycling program which has saved thousands of dollars in trash hauling fees in 2010.