As UW-La Crosse students move out, they’re donating dorm items that anyone can pick up through sustainability program

One sure sign that UW-La Crosse is out for the summer is when the dumpsters fill up, as students clear out of the dorms.

The move out is happening this week and the campus has a recycling program to keep usable items from going to waste.

Through Thursday, students at the dorms can take big items to two collection stations on campus, where anyone can pick up those items and give them a new home.

UW-L sustainability coordinator Andrew Ericson sees all sorts of pieces that can be recycled.

“We’ve collected quite a few vacuums, microwaves, sofas, futons, chairs,” Ericson said.

One building, where the donated items are stored, also contained some electric fans and big-screen TVs.

Ericson said the goal is to reduce the amount of stuff being thrown out at the end of spring semester.

“If you’re here enough, you’ll see the dumpsters overflowing, and people like me, we see those things, and we’re like, that’s still got some life in it,” he said.

The collection sites are at opposite ends of campus — near Angell Hall on the west side and near Reuter Hall and the stadium on the east side. Those sites are open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.