Reduce Move-Out Waste

Possible Academic Connections: Marketing, Environmental Studies

Recommended project length: Semester, year or thesis/dissertation

Experiential Learning? Likely

Community Engagement? Likely

Remote learning possible? Likely

Connection to OHIO Sustainability & Climate Action Plan: Waste, Engagement

Brief description: Create a proposal for the Solid Waste District for “Move Out” of dorms, college rentals, empty nesters, relocation and relatives of the deceased.

Project Description

Students will create an outreach plan to distribute to students, landlords, realtors and the general public to reduce the amount of materials at “move-out” and to get materials to proper reuse, recycling or disposal locations. The plan should include:

• A resource book and recommendations to the District and university on policies and programs.
• Identification of where unwanted items could go to reduce the materials being disposed of in dumpsters and then the landfill.
• A comprehensive list of items commonly found in a house and where they could possibly go instead of the landfill.
• Best methods to do outreach to the student and outside community about the project.

Resources Available to Students/Faculty to Complete Project

• Initial Interview with Jane Forrest Redfern, AHSWD, and/or Joanna Sokol, Campus Recycling
• Data from project from Summer of 2021
• Interviews with empty nesters, food advocates, local thrift and restore leadership
• Ohio University Move Out guide

Project alignment to OHIO Sustainability & Climate Action Plan

• Waste (goal #1 and #2)
• Engagement (goals #1 and #2)

Please send final project deliverables to sustainability@ohio.edu for tracking and reporting purposes.