Spring Check-Out Recycling Project is collecting donations through May 2

May 1, 2009

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida Department of Housing & Residence Education’s Green Team/Recycling/Sustainability Committee is sponsoring the 2009 Spring Check-Out Recycling Project. This year’s theme is “Recycle ’09.”

Collections of donated non-perishable food, clothes, small appliances, new and used school supplies and electronics recently began and will continue until Saturday, May 2, in residence hall lobby areas during the academic year check-out process. Salvation Army, Goodwill Industries, Habitat for Humanity, Peaceful Paths Domestic Abuse Network, the Outreach Center of Gainesville and Haven Hospice are local agencies selected by the committee to receive the collected items. Alachua County Tools for Schools and Cartridges for Kids also are assisting with the project.

The goals of the project are three-fold: to assist local charitable agencies, to reduce the amount of usable items deposited in the Alachua County landfills during year-end check out and to assist residents moving from residence halls. Based on past experience, an average of approximately $10 – $50 worth of usable items will be donated by each of 7,400 campus residents. In addition, approximately 4 to 5 tons of usable collected items will not be deposited in local landfills.