No Stuff Left Behind

By Chad Austin, News Services

For many students, heading home for the summer often means leaving some of their stuff behind. But thanks to the annual Pack-n-Go sale, sponsored by Waste Reduction and Recycling and University Housing, those discarded items don't  end up in a landfill.

"Anything we can keep out of the dumpsters and out of the landfill is a win for us," said Lindsay Batchelor, program manager for Waste Reduction and Recycling. "This is a great way to give back to the community and raise money for a great cause." 

The third annual sale, held May 21 at the E.S. King Village Community Center, allowed university employees to hunt for bargains from among the furniture, appliances, clothing and other items that students couldn't cram into their cars on their way out of town.

And judging from the shoppers' finds, one student's trash truly was another person's treasure. 

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"I stumbled onto some dishes that match the dishes I have at home," said Brian Swiger, who works in the Center for Urban Affairs and Community Services. He also picked up a lamp and a set of knives for a grand total of $6.

Swiger was among the early-bird shoppers, who lined up before the doors opened, anxiously waiting to pounce on the deals to be had inside. Electronics, furniture and small appliances were among the fast-selling items.

"People were really excited about the quality of the items," Batchelor said. "Some of the items we sold were brand new with tags still on them or things the students had in their rooms but never used."

University staff collected the discarded goods in the final weeks of the semester as students finished their final exams and packed up to head home. Volunteers then spent a day organizing, sorting and pricing the donated goods.

Proceeds from the sale go toward student sustainability initiatives on campus. This year's sale generated about $1,500, nearly double the amount earned last year. Any items not sold were donated to local charities.

Sales like the Pack-n-Go sale are a growing trend at colleges and universities nationwide.

"I can't trace back the origins of this kind of sale, but it's something that many universities do now," says Ryan Powell, recycling education and outreach coordinator at NC State. "We all end up getting a lot of trash at the end of the school year when students move out. This was one way we could mitigate the cost and the effects of having our crews making all of those trips to the landfills, and put these valuable resources back into the hands of people that are willing to pay for them."