Time to dumpster dive: Discarded home goods pile up as NU student leases end - Evanston RoundTable

2022-06-26 03:57:33 By : Mr. Billy Chen

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On evenings before trash collection, recent Northwestern University graduates Conor Metz and Geena Vetula go on “dumpster diving dates” in hopes of finding furniture for the Chicago apartment they’re moving into next month.

With leases ending and Northwestern students moving out, discarded home goods pile up near off-campus housing. With a keen eye for abandoned furniture, Metz and Vetula explore alleys and side streets, particularly near Evanston’s more expensive apartment buildings. 

“I feel like there’s a connotation that things you dumpster dive are dirty or broken, but they’re all perfectly good,” said Metz. “We got so much furniture through dumpster diving.”

Some of their most impressive finds include a desk, an air purifier, a chair, a coffee table, several large fake plants and a lamp, all of which they are bringing to their new apartment. Vetula said many Evanston dumpsters boast these kinds of finds around the end of the school year.

City data confirms that trash bins are particularly stuffed this time of year.

City staff keep a tally of all the apartment buildings and condos with overflowing trash containers. In 2021, the city noted about 30 overflowing bins per month in the winter. The number jumped up to 80 in the summer months. 

“There is a tangible trend that we see when we anticipate move-in and move-out,” said Brian Zimmerman, Solid Waste Coordinator at the City of Evanston. The city typically notes an increase in overflowing dumpsters between May and October, he said. 

When trash bins overflow, or when furniture is left on the curb as trash, the city sends workers on a designated route to collect the bulky garbage, said Zimmerman. “It’s an increase of service,” he added. 

But students who know they’re moving out soon could take more time to make arrangements for used furniture and home goods, said Zimmerman. There are resources available to students, but they require planning, he added. 

Cara Pratt, the city’s Sustainability and Resilience Coordinator, said overflowing dumpsters are just another example of convenience over planning, but this trend exceeds just the student community. 

“I understand why a lot of our bins and dumpsters are getting filled with college student move-out belongings,” Pratt said, “but I think it’s reflective of our culture as a society and how we don’t always take the time to dispose of those items thoughtfully.”

Pratt said she recommends students use Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist to sell, buy or donate items.

If students do need to dispose Zimmerman suggested students keep their property managers in the loop about move-in or move-out times, as they may be able to provide roll-out dumpsters or plan for a more accommodating trash or recycling schedule.

“I really advocate for students getting in the habit of trying to communicate with their landlords or property management groups,” he said.

It takes time, energy, and the extraction of raw materials to create household items, said Zimmerman. When items get tossed in the trash, they end up in a “complex, elaborate hole in the ground,” so they should be used for as long as possible, he added.  

Wasteful behavior also contributes to climate change. “Material breaks down in the landfill from compaction or just decomposition,” Zimmerman explained. “That emits greenhouse gases that are oftentimes seeping into the atmosphere and contributing to climate change.”

Reusing or recycling an item extends its life. This is beneficial to the environment as well as the community, since a lot of donation centers and charitable organizations find productive ways to support the local community using donated goods, said Zimmerman. 

Donating items also reduces the need to create new items, said Pratt. “If you have a blender that you don’t want anymore, it’s so much better to give your blender to a neighbor than it is for your neighbor to go on to Amazon and buy a new blender,” she said.

Students anticipating a move can sell items online through the Northwestern Facebook group Free & For Sale.

Students can also try selling goods on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist or Mercari.

Those looking to donate furniture and household goods can drop them off or schedule a pickup with the following local organizations:

Art Makers Outpost. This environmentally conscious art studio, located at 609 South Blvd, is dedicated to reusing materials to create art. More than 75% of the materials used at the studio would otherwise end up in landfills. 

Goodwill. Located at 1916B Dempster St., Goodwill accepts a wide variety of home goods, making it a great place to drop off all items that students failed to sell or donate to the nonprofits.  

The Salvation Army. An alternative to Goodwill, students can donate items to the Salvation Army, at 4335 Oakton St. in Skokie. 

Brown Elephant. Proceeds from this thrift store go to Howard Brown Health, a healthcare center that provides health and wellness programs to the LGBTQ+ community. The Brown Elephant has several locations across the Chicago. 

The Rebuilding Exchange. With a location in Chicago and one in Evanston, the Rebuilding Exchange is a nonprofit committed to sustainability and reusing building materials. The nonprofit offers workshops and a training program, while operating a retail store for home goods and building materials. 

Evanston Community Fridges. This mutual aid projects fights food insecurity by encouraging the community to donate food items to four public fridges located across Evanston. 

With some planning, students can divert household goods and furniture from landfills. “We’d love to see people sending usable material to those local establishments and making it more common practice,” said Zimmerman. 

Adina Keeling is a photojournalist and reporter, covering city news, sustainability, schools, and art. She also investigates mental health systems and environmental injustices in Evanston, and puts together... More by Adina Keeling

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