Every spring thousands of students pack up and leave the MSU campus. In order to help dispose and recycle everything they leave behind, the University began a coordinated effort years ago called Pack Up Pitch In. But not all the students packing up for the summer live on campus. That’s why the City of
East Lansing decided they needed some of the same type of coordination.
“During the spring move out time we get
a lot things put out on the curb,” says David Smith, environmental specialist for the
City of East Lansing. “A lot of those things still have life to them. We wanted to keep them from going to the landfill.”
In its fourth year, the city’s arm of Pack Up Pitch In collected more than 4,000 pounds of recyclable materials and donations from 110 movers, plus four delivery trucks full of home goods donated to the Volunteers of America and St. Vincent de Paul.
Other recipients of donated items were the Haven House, who received 80 pounds of food, and the MSU Surplus Store, who received all electronics for resale or recycling.
“Just about everything we collected was reused or recycled,” says Smith. “That was the big reason we do this event. [The students] have exams throughout the week, they’ve’ got to move out quickly. It’s a busy time for them.”
Smith estimates 12 volunteers gave their time to assist with the event on May 5 and 6.
Source: David Smith, City of East Lansing
Writer: Natalie Burg, News Editor
Courtesy photo
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