Athens, Ga. – On-campus University of Georgia residents donated an estimated 73,660 pounds of material to eight nonprofit organizations during move-out last week—a weight comparable to three UGA buses.
The Athens-Clarke County Recycling Center weighed trucks and trailers, including seven Goodwill of North Georgia tractor-trailer trucks full of donations, over the course of two weeks to reach the total estimated weight, a 28 percent increase from last year’s total.
The annual move-out event, known as Dawgs Ditch the Dumpster and Donate, is a partnership between University Housing, UGA Hillel and Goodwill of North Georgia. Staff members from each of the organizations collaborated to divert items such as futons, rugs, bedding, books and clothing from landfills to local charities including Goodwill of North Georgia, Project Safe, Athens Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, Friends of the Athens-Clarke County Library, Athens Area Homeless Shelter, St. Mary’s Auxiliary Thrift Store and Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful.
Jane Diener, program coordinator for the past three years and University Housing doctoral intern for sustainability is excited about the program’s success. “I am continuously impressed with students’ generosity and willingness to serve others,” she said. “Not only will these items go to organizations that need them but they don’t end up in dumpsters and landfills. It’s win-win-win.”
UGA Hillel President Josh Schwartz has participated in the annual program since 2014. “It’s so uplifting and amazing to see my peers recognize the value of this program,” he said. “All these donated items will go to this community and to people who can continue to benefit from their generosity.”
University Housing has participated in landfill diversion at the end of the academic year since 2006 and added partners UGA Hillel in 2010 and Goodwill of North Georgia in 2014.
UGA Student Affairs
The Division of Student Affairs comprises 18 campus departments that enhance the learning environment for students at the University of Georgia by stimulating the learning process, integrating the in-class and out-of-class experiences, promoting an environment conducive to growth and discovery and facilitating intellectual, spiritual, social, occupational, physical, cultural and emotional development. For more information, see studentaffairs.uga.edu.