In an effort to promote sustainability and reduce waste during the move-out process, Princeton University's Office of Sustainability runs the Greening Move Out program each spring. This year, the program saw a 7% increase in donations from 2023, totaling 42,761 pounds of items collected from students as they left their residences at the end of the spring semester.

A team of 75 volunteers were stationed at nine collection sites across campus. The students and staff, many who are members of the Sustainability Staff Ambassador program, sorted and organized piles of donations each day. Collected items were then transported to a warehouse storage space where they are stored until they are resold at a deep discount to students in the fall. This year the program accepted 56 refrigerators and over 19,000 pounds of clothing.

"The Building Services crews responsible for cleaning rooms after Move Out noticed a substantial decrease in items left behind by students, saving valuable time and University resources,” said John Argento, Building Services Manager. “The Greening Move Out program not only reduces waste but also fosters a sense of community among students and staff.”

“Managing waste effectively is crucial for our environmental stewardship goals,” said Marc Navarro, Sanitation Supervisor. “The efforts of the volunteers and the generosity of the students have made a significant impact on our campus waste diversion initiatives and sustainability goals, while saving my sanitation crews hours of cleanup during our busiest time of year.”

The Greening Move Out Program is led by Matthew Brinn, Communications and Engagement Manager in the Office of Sustainability, which is a part of the Princeton Facilities Organization. New this year was the placement of additional Goodwill bins earlier in the year. This proactive measure led to a 150% increase in clothing donations compared to the previous year.

"I am incredibly proud of the Princeton campus community for their commitment to sustainability,” said Brinn. “Thank you to all the volunteers who dedicated their time and effort to make Greening Move Out 2024 a success, and to the students for actively participating in reducing our environmental footprint."

In the Fall, after cleaning and sorting, donated items will be transported back to campus for the Office of Sustainability’s MoveIn ReSale program. Students are invited to Dillon Gym to purchase gently used couches, refrigerators, kitchen appliances, mirrors, fans and other common dorm items for a significant discount. Greening Move Out, combined with the MoveIn ReSale, represents one of Princeton University’s largest annual landfill diversion projects.