Keeping it Out of the Landfill

In 1995, Syracuse graduate student Lisa Heller Boragine lost her ring. She’d looked everywhere and there was nothing left to do but check the dumpster. What she found was eye opening including working televisions, a cigar box filled with rare stamps and an unopened case of Ramen noodles. This was the impetus to create Dump & Run, a fundraising, landfill saving activity on many college campuses including the University of Illinois.

Dumpster Diving in Champaign-Urbana is so lucrative there is even an Association that meets at the Urbana Free Library to share strategies and stories. Among the materials found in local dumpsters are cashmere sweaters with the price tags still attached, cash – both coin and folding, jewelry, unopened food, and a plethora of electronics from microwaves to computers.

As students prepare to return home, their belongings become disposable and begin to clog your dumpsters. This is messy and costly. Rather than pay to have perfectly usable – and often new – goods hauled to the landfill, consider setting up an area where those materials can be gathered. Perhaps you can designate an empty apartment as the Landfill Free Zone. The materials you collect can either be sold or be donated. Your donations are eligible for a tax deduction at these locations:

• Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore,: Either drop off at the store Mon – Sat. 10-5 or call 355.6460 for pick up
• YMCA’s Dump & Run: Donations accepted Aug. 11-14 from 9-4 at the U of I Stock Pavilion
• Goodwill: Drop off donations at 912 W Anthony Dr, Champaign or call 356-4021
• Salvation Army: Drop off donations at either Champaign location – 2212 N. Market Street or 109 West John Street. Call 373-7825 for free pick up of large items

In addition to furniture, clothing and electronics, you are likely to find unopened food. Consider donating this to a local food pantry. Hunger in America 2010 – a study by Feeding America reports that households experiencing low food security or hunger has gone up 54% nationally since their last study 4 years ago. The Central Illinois Foodbank network feeds an estimated 17,600 each week. Check with your church or donate to:

• Eastern Illinois Food Bank: At their warehouse from 7am to 3:30pm Monday through Thursday & 7am to noon on Friday. Call 328-3663 for more information.
• New Horizon Food Pantry: Contact the office at 359.8909 to make arrangements

If you have an iPhone, consider tracking your donations with the iDonatedIt iPhone application.

There are also several consignment companies you might consider. If you have like new clothing, contact:

• Karen’s Kloset at 355.9395
• Plato’s Closet at 366.8200
• Dandelion at 355.9333

Furniture, knick knacks, rugs and art work in great condition is sold at two local consignment stores:

• Classic Home Consignment located in Round Barn Center (239.1169)
• Copasetic Furniture Consignment located in Downtown Champaign

Let’s see how much material we can keep out of the landfill and into the hands of people who can use it.

1. 

   Andrew R. Timms says:

   July 19, 2010 at 9:46 pm

   My compliments on your thoroughness. Because you have suggested so many locations for donations, you have made the whole process easier for everyone involved.

   The idea of setting aside space for residents to unload their usable items is terrific.

   Thank you!

   reply