The Donation Drive is a project to reduce the environmental impact of move out, by making it easier for students to donate unwanted items before they leave campus. It's really easy to donate, with Donation Stations popping up across campus.

By keeping things in use, sharing, upcycling, swapping and refurbishing we can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the everyday things that we use as well as helping others. It’s particularly important for you to donate things at the end of the academic year, because with so many students moving out at once, there is a significant increase in waste. This sudden increase can overwhelm the system and even items that would normally be recycled end up in landfill, which is a disaster for the environment.

DONATE YOUR ITEMS. REDUCE WASTE. SUPPORT CHARITIES.

This project is run by the Energy & Sustainability Team with support from Post & Portering, Waste & Recycling, Conferences, Warwick Volunteers and Warwick Accommodation.

Where to donate?

During Donation Drives, Donation Stations are located at Residences and Parcel Collection Points, making it easy for you to declutter and donate any unwanted belongings before you move out. Please make your donations as early as possible!

What to donate?

Please only donate items that are clean, usable, and in working order. If you wouldn't give it to a friend, don't donate it!

Shop your cupboard

Figure out what you have in your cupboard and fridge. Grab a notepad and pen, and write down your inventory. Create meal plans trying to use up all items you have.

Don't have any tasty recipe ideas? Check out these search engines that generate recipes based on the items you have:

• My Fridge Food
• Super Cook

Take it home

Ask local supermarkets and shops whether they have any cardboard boxes you can have to pack your possessions in to make transportation easier.

Store your items

During the University vacation periods you may require local storage or delivery of your belongings. There is a wide range of storage and removals companies that operate and offer services locally, within the UK and overseas, so we advise you to explore options that may be best suited to your requirements prior to booking with a particular company. Find out more here.

Donate directly to local charities

• Donate items to local charity shops
• Donate furniture to the British Heart Foundation.
• You can donate unopened non-perishable food to the Trussell Trust collection point in Rootes Grocery Store.
• Arrange for furniture to be collected via a Coventry City Council bulky waste collection (in partnership with Emmaus).
• Donate furniture to one of the furniture community reuse schemes in Warwickshire.
• Donate furniture, duvets, pillows, kitchenware and crockery to Carriers of Hope.

Swap, Sell or Give Away

• Clothes via Fashion Exchange at Warwick on Facebook.
• Other items via Warwick Uni Buy-Sell-Gift-Exchange on Facebook.

• Check out local marketplaces and sharing platforms such as Olio.

• List your items for sale on other sites such as Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Vinted or DePop.
• List your items for free on groups such as Freecycle Leamington, and Freecycle Coventry.
• Offer items to your hallmates, housemates, and friends.

Recycle

• Double-check what can go in your blue-lidded recycling bins in Coventry or Leamington, and make best use of your remaining collection dates.
• Take recyclable items to the Coventry Reuse and Recycling Centre or the Princes Drive Recycling Centre in Leamington.
• Compost any food waste by placing it in your brown-lidded bin in Coventry, or food waste caddy in Leamington Spa.