Whether you live on or off campus, here’s a checklist to help you wrap up the end of the year sustainably.
Donate items you no longer need
As you prepare for move-out, you may have stuff you no longer need or want. Donating your items is a great way to move less stuff to your next place and to give your items a second life. Some things you may consider donating include:
Clothing- Bedding
- Electronics
- Fans
- Lamps
- Mirrors
- Storage containers
- Non-perishable food
- Personal care products
With the on-campus Give and Go Donation Drive, donating these items has never been easier! For on-campus residents, red donation bins will be in all residence halls and Bear Creek Apartments from April 29 through May 5. Plus, you can earn 50 PIPs for donating with up to five donations—just ask the CA on duty to scan the donation QR code.
If you’re moving out of an off-campus apartment or house, take your items to a local thrift store that accepts donations of clothing and household goods. Coordinate with your roommates or neighbors to consolidate donations and make one big trip to the thrift store.
Donate or store your bike
Unwanted bikes can be donated at the Folsom and UMC bike stations, where they will be refurbished and sold at the annual Bike Sale in the fall. If you’re keeping your bike, the CU Bike Program can store it for you for $10 over the summer or $30 for storage plus a tune-up. Storage is limited, so email bicycle@colorado.edu to reserve a spot.
The Bike Program will be accepting bikes for donation or storage May 3 at the UMC Bike Station and May 6–8 at the UMC Bike Station, Kittredge and Williams Village. Bikes left on campus that appear to be abandoned will be flagged and removed starting in May.
You still have time to earn PIPs toward fall semester tuition and fees! The PIPs Rewards mobile app allows you to earn “positive impact points” for various actions that benefit the planet, our community and your personal health and wellness.
Now, these points also can be turned into scholarships. PIPs users with at least 10,000 PIPs by June 1, 2019, can redeem them for a scholarship toward fall 2019 tuition and fees with PIPs for School.
Don’t have PIPs Rewards yet? Here’s how to get started and earn daily:
- Visit the Apple App Store or Google Play to download the app.
- Stop by the Environmental Center to pick up a QR code sticker for your water bottle. You can earn 10 PIPs each time you refill, up to three times a day.
- Stop by the Folsom or UMC bike stations to get a QR code sticker for your bike. You can collect 25 PIPs per ride, up to twice a day.
- Ride the HOP—you can earn 50 PIPs with each ride!
Properly dispose of hard-to-recycle, hazardous materials
Sometimes you may have items that you can’t throw away or donate, including electronics, cleaning products or fluorescent bulbs. Here are some tips for taking care of hard-to-recycle and hazardous items:
- It is illegal in Colorado to throw away electronics in a dumpster. Electronics in usable condition can be donated at a thrift store. Electronics not in usable condition can be recycled at Eco-Cycle’s Center for Hard to Recycle Materials.
- Visit the Environmental Center website for more options on disposing of hard-to-recycle items, including cell phones, batteries, toner cartridges and more.
- Common household hazardous waste products include items such as fluorescent bulbs, home cleaning products, home maintenance products, motor oil and antifreeze, paint, and yard and garden care products. Learn more about how to dispose of hazardous waste products.
- Dispose of your expired and unwanted medications at the take-back dropbox on the main floor lobby of the Parking Services and Police Department building.
Take a break and volunteer
Not only do volunteers help make the Give and Go Donation Drive possible, but completing a volunteer shift is a great way to take a short break from finals, give back and support sustainability at CU Boulder. Here’s what you need to know:
- Shifts are two hours long and volunteers will help sort, bag and process all donations received during move-out. View and sign-up for available volunteer shifts.
- All volunteers get a T-shirt and snacks. Those who complete a four-hour shift will also receive a dining center meal card (one per day).
- You could earn 500 PIPs for every two hours you volunteer (up to six hours). Make sure to find move-out staff and scan the volunteer QR code to collect your PIPs.
The Give and Go Donation Drive, made possible by CU Recycling, Housing & Dining Services and Facilities Management, helps more than 7,000 students donate more than 40 tons of reusable items and personal care products to local nonprofit organizations. In 2018 alone, more than 44 tons of material were collected in the donation drive!
Pick up your Green Cord
Are you graduating in May? Take the Graduation Pledge of Social & Environmental Responsibility and pick up an optional green cord to wear at graduation! The pledge of the Graduation Pledge Alliance states:
“I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and to try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work.”
The green cord symbolizes your commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Cords will be available for pick-up at the Environmental Center, UMC 355, April 29 to May 3 and May 6–8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. A $5 deposit is asked for the cords. Your deposit will be refunded if you return your green cord for re-use in future years. Cords are limited in supply and available on a first-come basis.
Sustainable Buffs is a new series brought to you by the Environmental Center. Learn more sustainability tips and ways to get involved at colorado.edu/ecenter.
