Moving In
Dealing with cardboard and foam
Moving Out
City drop off site
Moving to or in Ann Arbor for school?
Attention students moving “Beyond The Diag". Want to do your part at keeping items out of the landfill? The more you “reuse" now, the less waste there is at the end of the school year. Keeping unnecessary things out of the landfill. Before coming, check with your roommates to make sure you are not bringing duplicate items, like small kitchen appliances, coffee tables, vacuums, rugs, etc.
For stuff you do have to buy, get them from one of the many places that sell gently used, good condition items. From Scrap Creative Reuse for things like notebooks, pencils, markers, and crafts, Kiwanis for furniture, organizers, lamps, appliances, bikes, and even mattresses, to Ann Arbor Thrift Shop for clothes, housewares, and linens, there are many organizations that can help you get settled as you move to Ann Arbor. You will be saving money and supporting the local community!
Dealing with cardboard and foam
Once you're unpacked and settling in, help us manage the boxes and foam that you used to move your stuff. Cardboard can go in any blue City of Ann Arbor recycle cart or dumpster. Be sure to flatten the box so that there is room for everyone's boxes. Also, be sure to remove any plastic or foam packing materials before recycling boxes. Foam can be placed in special drop-box locations around campus between August 19 and 25. These drop locations can only accept block foam and peanuts; bagged separately. Any flexible film foam, bubble wrap, or plastic wrap should be placed in the garbage. Outside of these dates and drop boxes, foam can be taken to Recycle Ann Arbor's drop off station while they are open and for a fee. If this does not work, then foam should go in the trash.
Moving out?
- Don't need the mini fridge you kept over the summer?
- Did your bed size change and now you don't need what you used last year?
- Too many plastic drawers from the dorms you no longer need?
Consider selling items you no longer need, or giving them to fellow students. So many of your fellow students are on a budget or care about the environment. The more you give away, the less the same items need to be repurchased! Items can be sold on places like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Mercari.
Left over stuff you can't sell? Make a plan now to donate your household items, décor, clothing, nonperishable food and more! By donating your stuff, you can help families that were previously unhoused, provide food for fellow students, and reduce your waste to the landfill. For details of off-campus collections visit House N2 Home, Jewish Family Services, and the City's reuse page, for a donation directory.
City drop off site
