Volunteers are needed to assist with the UO Zero Waste Program during campuswide residence hall move-outs June 10-12. 

Zero Waste volunteers help keep recyclable items from ending up in a landfill. Instead, volunteers sort and recycle unwanted items that are dropped off at campus recycling/waste stations.

Approximately 60 to 75 volunteers are needed for this year’s event. Robyn Hathcock, UO Housing Zero Waste program coordinator, said last year’s event was successful.

“Campus Zero Waste staff and volunteer efforts contributed to the 30-plus tons of reusable goods collected from campus residents and redistributed in our community,” she said. “From the recycling end, over 12 tons of recyclables were collected during the week of spring move-outs.”

In addition to recycling certain items, goods such as school supplies, bedding, clothing and sporting equipment can be donated to the Give Before You Go program, which distributes supplies to local families in need.

Students moving out of the residence halls should be aware of the different types of goods that can be reused.

“Basic recyclables such as paper, books, cardboard boxes and bottles and cans should be recycled instead of being thrown away. Common items that should be readily donated include clothing, bedding, shoes, school and art supplies, sports equipment and electronics,” Hathcock said.

Volunteers can sign up by phone or by scheduling themselves on a public Google document.

“Despite the donation program and lots of extra capacity for recycling, we see it happen every year where students, in a rush to leave campus, still throw reusable and recyclable goods into the trash dumpsters,” Hathcock said.

Volunteers can call or email Robyn Hathcock at 541-346-0929 or rjhath@uoregon.edu or sign up by accessing the Google document.

―By Corinne Boyer, Public Affairs Communications intern