Ditch the Dumpster
Our mission
Ditch the Dumpster diverts waste from landfills, supports local non-profits and teaches the ASU community about proper recycling and reuse.
Every year ASU students moving on or off-campus realize they have accumulated more stuff than they need or have space for. Many of those items do not belong in the landfill.
Ditch the Dumpster allows for reuse, repurpose or recycling of those items.
Contact
Email the Ditch the Dumpster team.
Tips
Move-in
Ask for help. Volunteers can show you how and where to recycle in your dorm.
- Break down and flatten your boxes, to take up less room, before recycling them.
- Check behind your room door for a sheet that details recyclable and non-recyclable items.
- Do not use boxes as trash bins to carry stuff.
- If you do, make sure to empty, flatten and place boxes in the correct receptacle.
- Use reusable containers, or save your flattened boxes for use during move-out.
- Use the blue recycling bin in your room.
Move-out
- Create a three-bin system.
- Donate.
- Landfill.
- Recycle.
- Start early; donation bins available on Earth Day: April 22.
- Talk to your CA if you have questions or email the Ditch the Dumpster team.
Recycle at move-out: In addition to the normal year-round co-mingled recycling location, look for additional labeled recycling bins around the residence halls.
What to donate
During move-out
Drop off larger, fragile or potentially messy items large collection areas. These items include:
- Books, hangers and storage bins.
- Clothing, shoes and accessories.
- Furniture.
- Lamps and egg-crate mattress pads.
- Larger appliances and electronics (usable or not).
- Linens, drapery, towels, bedding and stuffed animals.
- Sealed detergents or cleansers.
- Smaller household goods.
- Unopened, non-perishable food.
Year-round
Drop off your smaller items in the Big Brothers Big Sisters collection boxes. These items include:
- Books, hangers and storage bins.
- Clothing, shoes and accessories.
- Linens, drapery, towels, bedding and stuffed animals.
- Smaller household goods.
Medication disposal - safely dispose of expired prescription drugs and vitamins at these locations:
- Downtown Phoenix | Phoenix Police Department, 620 W. Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85003
- Polytechnic | Walgreens, 4766 E. Queen Creek Rd. Gilbert, AZ 85297
- Tempe | ASU Police, 325 East Apache Blvd. Tempe, AZ 85281
- West Valley | Phoenix Police Department – Cactus Park Precinct, 12220 N. 39th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85029
Where to donate
Residence hall recycling maps
Tempe campus
| Residence Hall | Indoor Location | Outdoor Location | Year-round Location |
| Adelphi I | Under the awning by building 157F | Sunset Circle - traffic circle next to the Community Room | Map |
| Adelphi II | Under the awning by building 157F | Sunset Circle - traffic circle next to the Community Room | Map |
| Barrett | Cereus and Cottonwood trash rooms; food donations accepted at Barrett front desk | Mattress pads are accepted at the Barrett Amphitheater | Map |
| Center Complex | Best Hall laundry room | Northeast courtyard, Irish Hall B - close to Lemon Street | Map |
| Greek Leadership Village | Greek Leadership Community Center | N/A | Map |
| Hassayampa East | HAV H1 lounge | Mattress pads are accepted near the East Lemon Mall parking lot | Map |
| Hassayampa West | HAV E1 lounge | Mattress pads are accepted near Parking Lot 40W | Map |
| Manzanita Hall | Hallway outside multipurpose room - first floor | West entrance near front desk | Map |
| McClintock Hall | First floor lounge. East entrance near front desk. | N/A | Map |
| Palo Verde East | Main lobby | North side of building near landfill and recycling compactors | Map |
| Palo Verde West | Main lobby | North side of building near landfill and recycling compactors | Map |
| San Pablo | First-floor lounge by front desk | West side of building | Map |
| Sonora Center | Hallway outside of the conference room, between desk and clinic | South side parking lot, front parking lot | Map |
| Sun Devil Fitness Complex | N/A | West of the main entrance of SDFC | N/A |
| Tooker House | Community lounges on floors 3 and 5 | Mattress pads are accepted on the north side of Tooker | Map |
| University Towers | Fourth-floor breezeway | Southwest patio near pool | Map |
| Vista Del Sol | Vista del Sol Community Center near theater | Mattress pads are accepted near the south trash room | Map |
| Villas at Vista | Vista del Sol Community Center near theater | N/A | Map |
West Valley campus
| Residence Hall | Indoor Location | Outdoor Location | Year-round Location |
| Casa de Oro | First-floor trash room and west kitchen | Southeast exit, near trash zone | Map |
| Las Casas | Community center lobby | West side of building, parking lot 19 | Map |
Downtown Phoenix campus
| Residence Hall | Indoor Location | Outdoor Location | Year-round Location |
| Fusion on First | Residential lobby - south entrance | N/A | Map |
| Gordon Commons | Lobby outside of management office | N/A | Map |
Polytechnic campus
| Residence Hall | Indoor Location | Outdoor Location | Year-round Location |
| Century Hall | Main lobby, first floor | West entrance | Map |
| Lantana Hall | Main lobby, first floor | N/A | Map |
Community organizations
ASU partners with several local charities and nonprofits to donate items collected during Ditch the Dumpster.