As finals approach, so does move-out–packing your car so full you can barely see out of the rearview mirror, calling your parents for extra hands or maybe even a bigger vehicle, cleaning spaces you’ve neglected all year and sorting through items you no longer need. For many college students, this annual cycle adds stress on top of exams and results in thousands of pounds of usable items ending up in landfills.
But at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, a sustainability-based program is working to change that: Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine.
Created in 2024 by Emily Whitney, an associate professor of public and community health education, Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine is designed to give a second life to items that are often thrown away during move-out week despite being in good condition. While only students living on campus can donate items, anyone is welcome to take them from the two collection sites located outside of Angell Hall and Reuter Hall near campus dumpsters.
The collection sites will be open during finals week, May 12–15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. During these times, students can drop off unwanted items or pick up items to reuse. Any unclaimed items are donated back into the area through local organizations, including Habitat for Humanity.
Last year, 90% of items donated were redistributed to the La Crosse community.
“UWL is part of the larger La Crosse community,” Whitney said. “We should also be working with our neighbors, as well as local organizations and businesses, to care for and give back to our community.”
Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine was created in response to the City of La Crosse discontinuing its contract for large-item pickup. Many of the items now collected near Angell and Reuter would have previously been handled through that service. From futons to storage carts, the program collected more than 300 items last year—keeping usable goods out of landfills while providing affordable resources for students.
“Whether they’re shelving units, couches or chairs, they still are usable, and we think that either our campus community or the larger community could use those items,” said Andrew Ericson, UWL’s Sustainability Program Manager.
Though the program is only in its third year, it has already made a significant impact. It has been recognized at the state level, with UWL and Habitat for Humanity receiving the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Recycling Excellence Award.
Students looking to get rid of smaller items, such as clothing or non-perishable food, can instead leave them in their residence hall lobbies, where they will be distributed to Campus Thread or the UWL Food Pantry.
According to the program’s website, organizers hope to eventually expand Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine to include off-campus student donations. In the meantime, those living off campus are encouraged to visit the City of La Crosse’s website for guidance on disposing of large items and follow the terms of their lease.
