| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 73.80 |
| Liaison | Pamela Mischen |
| Submission Date | March 2, 2023 |
Binghamton University
IN-48: Innovation B
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.50 / 0.50 |
Christopher
Harasta Retail Manager Dining Services |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Binghamton Move Out Project
A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:
The purpose of the Binghamton Move Out Project is to reduce waste produced by Binghamton University students during Spring move out and repurpose items back into the surrounding community. This is done by deploying a volunteer-run pick-up service during the month of May in which items are picked up from students and then redistributed to various places in the community, including nonprofit organizations and schools. In its four years of operation, Binghamton Move Out has collected clothing, small appliances, furniture, books, and non-perishable food items from over 320 students that were then redistributed back into the community.
Ideas for this project came from an article in the Press & Sun Bulletin addressing the mass amount of waste produced by students while moving out of their off-campus housing in the Spring. This issue has been confirmed by numerous community members including residents and landlords who have seen firsthand the mass amount of waste lining the community’s sidewalks during the month of May. The issue stems from the fact that students often do not have the knowledge, means, and/or time to donate their items and instead resort to throwing items in usable condition away. This results in a massive influx of unnecessary waste.
Residents of the neighborhoods in which this project operates benefit from a reduction in curbside waste as their streets will appear cleaner and more orderly, contributing to neighborhood upkeep and morale. Additionally, donations are given to local organizations and schools and redistributed to their clients, exemplifying how residents of the broader Broome County area benefit. Past recipients include The Children’s Home, Truth Pharm, RISE, the Addiction Center of Broome County, and Maine Endwell and Johnson City Central School Districts. The upkeep of neighborhoods and influx of donations by students strengthen the university-community relationship by giving students an avenue to give back to the Binghamton community and show that they care.
Ideas for this project came from an article in the Press & Sun Bulletin addressing the mass amount of waste produced by students while moving out of their off-campus housing in the Spring. This issue has been confirmed by numerous community members including residents and landlords who have seen firsthand the mass amount of waste lining the community’s sidewalks during the month of May. The issue stems from the fact that students often do not have the knowledge, means, and/or time to donate their items and instead resort to throwing items in usable condition away. This results in a massive influx of unnecessary waste.
Residents of the neighborhoods in which this project operates benefit from a reduction in curbside waste as their streets will appear cleaner and more orderly, contributing to neighborhood upkeep and morale. Additionally, donations are given to local organizations and schools and redistributed to their clients, exemplifying how residents of the broader Broome County area benefit. Past recipients include The Children’s Home, Truth Pharm, RISE, the Addiction Center of Broome County, and Maine Endwell and Johnson City Central School Districts. The upkeep of neighborhoods and influx of donations by students strengthen the university-community relationship by giving students an avenue to give back to the Binghamton community and show that they care.
Optional Fields
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The project has been covered in a few publications:
https://www.binghamton.edu/news/story/1820/student-helps-reduce-waste-in-binghamton-during-may-move-out
https://www.bupipedream.com/news/107558/binghamton-off-campus-project-aims-to-decrease-end-of-semester-waste/
https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/sce/susquehanna-group/Newsletter2203.pdf
Additional Information Regarding University Involvement:
Binghamton University has actively supported the project in a few ways:
The project operates out of a facility owned by the Binghamton University Foundation
The office of media and public relations supported the project via social media and listserv communications
Res Life invited the project on-campus for the 2022 year, which collected an additional 2,780 pounds of donations
This year MOP is hosting an 2-credit internship, hosted the Binghamton University's Envi department.
https://www.binghamton.edu/news/story/1820/student-helps-reduce-waste-in-binghamton-during-may-move-out
https://www.bupipedream.com/news/107558/binghamton-off-campus-project-aims-to-decrease-end-of-semester-waste/
https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/sce/susquehanna-group/Newsletter2203.pdf
Additional Information Regarding University Involvement:
Binghamton University has actively supported the project in a few ways:
The project operates out of a facility owned by the Binghamton University Foundation
The office of media and public relations supported the project via social media and listserv communications
Res Life invited the project on-campus for the 2022 year, which collected an additional 2,780 pounds of donations
This year MOP is hosting an 2-credit internship, hosted the Binghamton University's Envi department.
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