Move-Out Donations & Waste Reduction

Donating items for reuse and diverting waste from landfills helps reduce pollution and improve community access & equity.

Between finals, saying goodbye to friends, and figuring out summer plans, packing might not be the first thing on your priority list. At Tufts, move out is designed to make it easy and simple for you to reduce the amount of items you throw away. In addition to the many recycling and landfill dumpsters around campus, Donation & Recycling Stations are available across campus during move-out to donate and recycle unwanted items instead of sending them to the landfill. All usable goods are provided to future students and community members who need them.

2026 Donation & Recycling Stations: 

Donation & Recycling Stations for 2026 move-out will open starting Thursday, April 30 and are accessible 24/7 (staffed 11 am - 4 pm) for drop off of the items listed below.

Note: Stations will be closed on Sundays, May 3 and May 10.

Please check back to this page throughout move-out for the most up-to-date information.

Donation Stations that open on April 30:

• Houston Hall
• Harleston
• Lewis Hall Courtyard

Standard recycling and trash dumpsters will be on site and available for use on April 30 at the following locations:

• Carmichael Parking Lot
• Miller Hall
• Houston Hall
• Harleston
• Latin Way
• Lewis Gravel Drive

Only place traditional recycling in the recycling dumpster (paper, cardboard, and plastic, metal, or glass containers).

Note that electronics cannot be placed in trash or recycling dumpsters. They must be disposed of separately because they contain hazardous materials. Please bring them to a donation station. 

Big Move-Out Day: First-years through juniors move out by 12 pm, May 9 and donation stations will be open from 9 am to 4 pm.

Senior Move-Out: An additional donation station will be placed in front of Sophia Gordon starting on Monday, May 18 to accommodate seniors.
 

Accepted Donation Items:

• Mattress toppers 

• Clothing, sheets, shoes, & pillows (must be bagged in plastic bags!) 

• Household items: storage containers, dorm decor, fans, vacuums, large and small lamps, mirrors, waste bins, laundry baskets 

• Dining hall dishes  

• Books and school supplies  

• Crutches and exercise/sports equipment 

• Unopened, non-perishable food 

• Cleaning supplies: laundry detergent, brooms and sweepers 

• Toiletries: Unopened bottles, feminine hygiene products 

• Kitchen cookware, working kitchen appliances 

• Working electronics 

• Furniture 

• Rugs 

• Media items (DVDs, VHS, CDs, vinyl records, Blu-Ray, etc.) 

Accepted recycling streams:

• Plastic film, including grocery bags, air pillows, bubble wrap, and produce bags  

• Broken small electronics  

• Compost    

We DO NOT accept: 

• Hazardous items (for more information about battery and lightbulb recycling at Tufts, visit our specialty recycling webpage) 

• Mattresses

All other recycling and waste can be brought to outside recycling (blue lid) and trash (black lid) dumpsters.  

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Off-Campus Students: Bring your items to any of the above stations! The Sophia Gordon station is next to the parking area. If you can’t bring your items to one of our stations, check out your municipality's website for information on how to donate clothes and other items!

Medford Recycling | Medford Textiles Vendor - Helpsy | For any bulk item collection, please contact Waste Management at 800-972-4545 to schedule your pick-up. Please then follow their instructions.

Somerville Recycling | Somerville Textiles Vendor – Simple Recycling | Limited to two items per week curbside with the regular trash. Place your bulk waste out by 7 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.

Remember, textiles and mattresses are banned from the landfill, so it is illegal to put them in your trash bin! If you have any questions about how to properly donate items, please reach out via recycle@tufts.edu