Moving Out Sustainably
What is the Donation Drive?
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!
Our Environmental Impact
- The Donation Drive project diverted 8,160.31 kgs from general waste. This is equivalent to the weight of 80,000 decks of cards or 5,000,000 paper clips.
- The Donation Drive project avoided approximately 15,524 kgCO2e by keeping items in use. This figure has been calculated using lifecycle assessment data which looks at the impact of the raw materials required to produce the items, processing, packaging, and distribution of goods. This is equivalent to driving 2.3 laps around the world or 15 million phone charges.
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One of the aims of the Donation Drive project was to keep as many of the donated items as possible in use on campus,, and the Kitchen Kit Market helped achieve this by redistributing over 2 tonnes of kitchenware.
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Each student avoided approximately 14.7 kgs of carbon by choosing to buy preloved items rather than new. This is equivalent to driving a car for 86 kilometres.
Our Social and Economic Impact
- The Donation Drive engaged 61 staff, student and community volunteers.
- The Donation Drive supported the local community and on-campus initiatives including:
- British Heart Foundation
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Finham Park 2 School
- WorkWear Wardrobe
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The Kitchen Kit Market raised £5,900 for charity.
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The Kitchen Kit Market saw over 1000 students purchase pre-loved kitchen items on a "pay as you feel" basis, picking up bargains to fill their new homes. Students had the opportunity to buy a full set of kitchenware for as little as £1.
Help us reduce waste!
Waste has a very negative impact on the environment, whether it’s food in landfill causing methane (a very potent greenhouse gas), plastics and chemicals polluting the environment, precious resources being lost or even the carbon emissions from recycling. 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.
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:
Swap your items
Have too much surplus items and don't know what to do with them? Check out local marketplaces and sharing platforms such as Olio.
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.
