Student Move-Out Guide: Donate, Recycle, and Reduce Waste

Caring for Our Common Home

Even at Move-out

Move-out is one of the most waste-intensive times of the year. By donating usable items, recycling properly, and following campus guidance, you can reduce waste, support local communities, and help make move-out more sustainable

Living Our Values

Veritas. Unitas. Caritas.

By donating and reducing waste, you:

Support fellow students
Help local communities
Reduce landfill waste and negative impacts
Demonstrate stewardship

Quick link for students living off-campus

Donation guidelines:

Where can I find yellow bags for donating clothing?
What should NOT be donated?
Where to donate?
What can be donated?
What do I do with items not accepted as donations?

Hovnanian Hall donation bin area - 5-7-25

Donation area in lobby of Hovnanian Hall

Where can I find yellow bags for donating clothing?

See your RA or contact Residence Life.

You can also email Villanova Recycling to make arrangements to get yellow bags or drop off donations.

Sorted student donations ready for pickup by local charity partners

What should NOT be donated?

Perishable food
Broken or damaged items
Pillows
Mattress pads
Worn out or soiled clothing
General trash

Put Waste in Its Place in the Race to Zero Waste

Move-out Best Practices:

Start early
Coordinate with roommates
Separate useful items that still have life left from any recycling and trash
Participate in on-campus freecycle events such as Wildcat Thrift
Follow signage and drop-off instructions for move-out collection drive

Reach out if you have questions.

Storage items and household items donated by students

Where to donate?

Donation boxes will be placed out in ALL campus residential buildings during the days leading up to the final day of classes.

Also, the VU Free Store in the basement of Falvey Library accepts donations all year!

Yellow bags for clothing can be acquired from Res Life or the Waste & Recycling office

What can be donated?

Unopened, non-perishable food
Unopened personal care/hygiene items
Clothing, shoes, and textiles (place in yellow bags provided by Res Life, or place in donation boxes provided)
Housewares & Furniture
Decor
Books
School & Office Supplies
Bed sheets and comforters

General trash or recycling items should not be placed in donation bins

What do I do with items not accepted as donations?

See below for more information about the various recycling programs available

If it can't be donated, can it be recycled instead?

Accepted items in expanded single-stream recycling bins or dumpsters found throughout campus

Specialty Recycling programs during move-out:

Villanova has many additional recycling programs, and some unique seasonal programs during student move-out such as our foam mattress topper recycling collection

Specialty recycling programs available:

Flyer: W&R Move-Out Mattress Topper Recycling - 1

Foam Mattress Topper Recycling Program Flyer with list of locations for drop off

Did you know that throwing electronics in the trash is against the law in Pennsylvania, even if the items are broken or do not work?

Instead of throwing them in the trash, please place unwanted electronics near donation drop off areas if you don't have the ability to take them to our other electronics waste recycling drop-off locations throughout campus.

All electronics waste must be recycled instead! Please do not place electronics, even if broken or not working, in the trash.