Campus Move-Out for Students
A lot can happen in a year, especially waste accumulation! As you plan your move-out and get ready for summer break, please consider the resources available to you to reduce landfill waste and support the local community. As you pack, please check the labels on all bins and sort appropriately. During the 2025 moveout, students donated 38,960 pounds of student items and nearly 700 pounds of non-perishable food to the local community!
Option #1: Donate
Blue donation bins will be available inside the residence halls. These donation bins are reserved for smaller items only, like lamps, backpacks, or clothing. Larger items, such as couches or rugs, should be taken outside of the residence halls and placed near the white yard signs. Packaged, shelf-stable foods can be donated in the orange barrels inside residence halls.
Option #2: Recycle
Recycling will be available in two forms:
- Single-stream, everyday collection via the blue toters (plastic, glass, aluminum) and gray carts (cardboard), located in the same spots you've become familiar with during the academic year. If you aren't sure if an item can be recycled, check out our A-Z Recycling Directory.
- Specialty electronic waste recycling (NEW FOR 2026) collection via white cardboard boxes will be available April 21 through 23, one week before donation bins become available. Materials suitable for e-waste include items such as broken fans, keyboards, laptops, and monitors. Batteries will be collected separately in 3-gallon buckets.
Option #3: Landfill
If an item is broken (non-electronic waste) or unable to be donated or recycled, your final option is to send it to the landfill. Green Waste Management dumpsters and silver dumpsters on wheels will be located outside near residence halls.
Not sure what to do with an item? See our Move-Out FAQ and table of common dorm items below.
Remember: There are mandatory move-out procedures to complete before you exit campus. For complete information about dorm move-out requirements, please visit Residential Life's move-out checklist page.
Move-Out FAQ
When does move-out begin?
- Move-out week 2026 begins Monday, May 4. Residence Halls will close on Saturday, May 9, at 12:00 pm. Once you see donation bins and trash dumpsters (starting April 27), you can start using them to expedite your move-out process!
Where will donation sites be located?
- Smaller donation items, like clothes, mugs, or shoes, should be placed in blue donation carts inside the residence halls. Larger donation items, such as fridges or futons, should be piled on the lawn outside near the Goodwill donation yard signs.
Where will recycling containers be located?
- Blue recycling toters and gray cardboard carts will be available in their typical locations in dorms and across campus.
- White electronic waste recycling boxes will be located where blue donation carts are typically located.
Where will dumpsters be located?
- Dumpsters will be dispersed outside near residence halls.
How will I know if a container is used for donations, recycling, or trash?
- Blue indoor donation carts will be labeled
- Orange indoor donation barrels for food will be labeled
- Outdoor donation piles will be marked with white yard signs
- Recycling toters and carts will be located next to a recycling poster
- Cardboard boxes will be labeled for electronic waste
- Trash dumpsters will have magnetic labels to be identified as trash
Where does my donated/recycled/trashed item go?
- Donated personal items go to Goodwill Industries of Michiana
- Orange food donation barrels go to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana
- Single-stream recycling is processed by Recycling Works
- Electronic waste is processed by the University's e-waste recycling partner, URT
- Trash is hauled away to the landfill by Waste Management
Why should I sort and donate items I no longer want?
- Ever heard the saying, “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure?” Proper sorting of discarded items in Move-Out allows items that may normally go into the trash to be reused or recycled. Every year during Move-Out, truckloads of items get donated to Goodwill thanks to efforts from students and Building Services staff.
Common Dorm Items
| Item | How to Process | Location |
| Bedding (clean) | Donate | Indoor donation carts |
| Books | Donate* | Check with your local Hall Council |
| Broken electronics | Recycle* | White cardboard boxes located inside residence halls |
| Cardboard | Recycle | Gray recycling carts |
| Clothes | Donate | Indoor donation carts |
| Couch | Donate | Outside donation pile |
| Chair | Donate | Outside donation pile |
| Desk lamp | Donate | Indoor donation carts |
| Fridges | Donate | Outside donation pile |
| Floor lamp | Donate | Outside donation pile |
| Food - opened or expired | Landfill | Dumpsters outside of residence halls |
| Food - unopened and unexpired | Donate | Orange barrels |
| Futon | Donate | Outside donation pile |
| Glass bottles | Recycle | Blue toters located within residence halls |
| Kitchen utensils or serveware | Donate | Indoor donation carts |
| Mattress protector | Donate | Indoor donation carts |
| Microwave | Donate | Indoor donation carts |
| Pillows | Landfill | Dumpsters outside of residence halls |
| Posters | Recycle | Blue toters located within residence halls |
| Refrigerators | Donate | Outside donation pile |
| Rugs or carpeting | Donate | Outside donation pile |
| School Supplies (packages of pens, calculators, notebooks, etc.) | Donate | Indoor donation carts |
*Some Hall Councils organize book drives. Please check with your dorm's Council to see if book donations are available to you during move-out. If your hall doesn't have a book drive, please put your books in the indoor donation carts.