Students, city prepare for Student Move Out

While the student move-out process at West Virginia University may be hectic, the city of Morgantown is doing everything it can to make the process run as smoothly as possible.

Student move out begins May 3 and will run through May 12. Each year, the city prepares for the mass exodus of West Virginia University students from apartments and dormitories to their hometowns.

Jason Keefer, a sophomore student from Colorado, said he was excited to leave his small dorm space, but he would have a difficult time packing for the trip home.

"I’m stoked to get out of the dorm because it’s so small," Keefer said. "However, the only things I’m taking home with me are the very valuables such as my laptop, headphones and others."

Traditionally, as students prepare to leave the city, they leave behind a large volume of trash.

In order to alleviateimproper waste disposal around Morgantown, the city has provided extra dumpsters for those students who pay regular weekly trash pick-up fees.

The dumpsters will be placed on Grant Avenue, Beverly Avenue, McLane Avenue, Willey Street, Garrison Avenue and Brockway Avenue on May 3 and will be regularly emptied.

The Monongalia County Solid Waste Authority’s E-Cyclable Program, which encourages students to properly recycle electronic items that are no longer in working condition, is another opportunity for students to get rid of items they no longer wish to keep.

The United Way’s Blue & Gold Mine sale, which is an annual rummage sale to help keep items that could be of use to others out of the landfills allows students to donate unwanted items to encourage a second life for resources.

"I refuse to throw anything away. Anything I no longer have a use for, I know someone less fortunate would die to have, so I’ll give it to them," Keefer said. "Why throw something away when you can make someone’s day?"

University conservation specialist Traci Liebig said the sale provides an opportunity to move out while being environmentally conscious.

"It’s really a win-win for the city and WVU. It keeps the streets looking nice during Student Move Out, reduces trash around the city and reduces the appearance of trash in student housing areas," Liebig said. "It gets students involved in green aspects by not putting more items into the landfill, giving to charitable organizations and having pride in your neighborhood by keeping in clean when you’re moving out."

Donation stations will be available April 30 through May 16 at all campus residence halls, the WVU Student Recreation Center, Seneca Center, Chateau Royale, Grant Avenue, Area 81 of Mountaineer Station, Prospect Street and Spruce Street.

Items may also be donated at the WVU Stadium East Concourse May 12 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

For more information regarding move-out procedures and trash pick-up, contact an Allied Waste customer service representative at (304)-366-8900.