(Chico State) "Project rescues good stuff from garbage bins"-from college dorm students

[fed-up]

In 2000 a program called Diversion Excursion" was launched by Chico State Residence Halls staff and the Associated students. Last year 15,000 pounds of "stuff was diverted from the landfill with the help of 100 volunteers. This year's goal is 20,000 pounds. Stuff isent then rerouted to homeless shelters, charities, Computers in the Classroom, bikes go to Associated Students Adventure Outings (repaired and sold to pay for activities)



http://www.chicoer.com/newshome/ci_5924677

Project rescues good stuff from garbage bins

An old saying claims one person's trash is another person's treasure. Years ago residence hall officials at Chico State University recognized a lot of what students threw away absolutely was treasure.
Before 2000, university staff working in the campus dorms discovered students leaving for home at the end of spring semester were dumping an astonishing array of useful and even valuable items in the trash.

Luisa Garza, lead groundsworker in the Chico State residence halls, said her staff was seeing "good computers, working stereos, working televisions" as well as clothing, bedding, nonperishable food, and a host of toys, stuffed animals and other electronic gadgets, end up in garbage bins at the end of the semester.

WATCH video of 'Diversion Excursion'
The students were dumping the stuff, not because they thought it was worthless, but because they were headed home, often several in a single car, and there was just no room for all their possessions, she explained.


...snip

Besides the benefit of collecting reusable items for charity, the annual campus project also helps the university conform to a state mandate to reduce its total trash output. Each pound of items that is recovered is deducted from the rest of the campus waste stream total, according to DiFalco.

[China_cat]

1. Idea recycled from the late '60's

I remember furnishing a house from what we found put out for the trashman to take...and none of it was real junk, either. I don't remember anything that needed functional repairs.

When we no longer needed anything, we continued collecting the good stuff and sold it at flea markets on the weekends to support ourselves.

[AlecBGreen]

2. dumpster diving

is an honored tradition down in Blacksburg. When VT closes down for the year, me and a few friends would always paw through the bins. I came away with brand new clothes (with tags), CDs, appliances, everything. A good friend of mine got a brand-spankin new Mandolin in its case, probably never played.

Long live dumpster divers and the rich idiot freshmen who support them!

-Alec