One Man’s Trash Is Another’s Treasure

As each school year ends, students who take a plane cross country or can’t manage to pack all of their belongings in their vehicles are often forced to leave behind computers, televisions, furniture, lamps, and clothing, among other items.

To improve this situation, Eco-Action is sponsoring “Trash or Treasure,” a program to redirect unwanted student items to Worcester-area organizations. Students will find boxes on most floors and dollies in all dorm basements to collect their goods.

Coordinated by Maria de la Motte ’10, “Trash or Treasure” is similar to initiatives now being instituted at other schools throughout the country.

While the service will make it easier for students to get rid of items they’ve accumulated throughout the year, de la Motte stresses that the program also allows an opportunity for reflection.

“We don’t want the program to just end up unintentionally glorifying overconsumption,” de la Motte says. “Instead, we hope students will reflect critically on the human and environmental impacts of our purchasing choices.”

An anthropology major with an environmental studies concentration from Newport, R.I., de la Motte has worked with a dedicated volunteer committee of five other students on the project. The group has worked closely with various College departments to make the ambitious program a reality.

“We’ve met extensively with Physical Plant, Residence Life, and Student Programs and Involvement to make this event work,” de la Motte says. The college staff, she adds, “has been immensely helpful and supportive.”

From May 5-9, student volunteers will collect the donated materials and bring them to a designated storage location in Loyola Hall. From there, the items will be designated for their next destination.

Reusable items (a list of which can be found on Eco-Action’s Web site) will be donated to sites frequented by the Student Programs for Urban Development (SPUD) — including Dismas House and the Village at Cambridge Street, as well as to the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance and the Salvation Army.

All donated books will be sent to Whitney Street Books, a one-person business in Holden, which sells books online to support local land conservation efforts. Over the previous three years, Whitney Street Books has donated more than $35,000 to the national non-profit group the Trust for Public Land to support its Worcester County Conservation Initiative.

Students who wish to donate have several options. Smaller items like clothing, office supplies and books can be left in the marked boxes located on individual floors. Larger items, like furniture, rugs, or bedding, can be brought to service dollies in the basements of the dorms. Also, pick-up service can be arranged by calling 401-835-4904.

By Ross Weisman ’09