University in Donation Drive appeal to reduce environmental impact of moving out

The University of Warwick has launched its annual Donation Drive to collect unwanted items, as students move out of their on-campus accommodation.

The initiative aims to reduce waste and support local charities as the end of the academic year approaches.

Launched in 2019 as a joint project between students and the University’s Energy and Sustainability Team, the annual campaign aims to collect unwanted clothes, books, kitchenware, and bikes, among other items, from students moving out of their accommodation.

The project is organised by the Energy and Sustainability Team, in partnership with Warwick Accommodation, the Waste and Recycling Team, the Post and Portering Team, and Warwick Volunteers.

Kitchenware donated through the initiative will be resold at the Kitchen Kit Market in the Junction building during Welcome Week

By encouraging students to donate items instead of disposing of them, the Donation Drive aims to reduce the environmental impact of the moving out process, which causes a “significant increase in waste” on campus.

The increase in waste is said to “overwhelm the system” as “items that would normally be recycled end up in landfill, which is a disaster for the environment.”

The campaign also supports three charities – the Trussell Trust’s Coventry Branch, Carriers of Hope, and the British Heart Foundation. Items collected during the campaign will be sorted and donated to the charities, who will distribute the items to those in need.

Kitchenware donated through the initiative will be resold at the Kitchen Kit Market in the Junction building during Welcome Week, from 19 to 22 September. Students will be able to purchase new kitchenware items for their accommodation at the market.

We wanted something more proactive, encouraging students to think about their environmental impact

Evelin Sanderson-Nichols, Sustainability Assistant, Energy and Sustainability Team

The Donation Drive also aims to educate people on how items can be reused rather than thrown away.

Evelin Sanderson-Nichols, Sustainability Assistant for the Energy and Sustainability Team, told The Boar that: “Rather than students leaving belongings behind to be ‘saved’, we wanted something more proactive, encouraging students to think about their environmental impact, reduce their carbon footprint, and prevent waste.”

Sanderson-Nichols also celebrated the previous success of the campaign. She told The Boar: “Since 2019, with the help of our amazing volunteers, we’ve collected over five tonnes of food and over 30 tonnes of kitchenware to donate to local charities to help people in need.”

“We tested out this proactive approach on a smaller scale during our Food Drive at the end of Term 2 in Jack Martin and Arthur Vick residences. We collected a whopping 125 kilograms of dry food in just two days which was donated to the Trussell Trust. Students appreciated the ease of the process and reacted really positively.”

Students can donate their unwanted items to one of 28 donation stations located across the University campus until the end of Week 10. Items will then be collected on 29 June, and sorted and distributed to charities by volunteers.

Those interested in volunteering as part of the campaign can register their interest on the Donation Drive website. Students can also follow the campaign on social media by following @WarwickUniSust on Instagram,X, and Facebook.