Duke University continues to expand its programs that divert usable materials from landfills while building more circular systems across campus that keep items in use, strengthen community partnerships and engage students directly in sustainability efforts – with several added efforts this year.
Duke’s Move Out Donation Program is coordinated by Duke Student Affairs Sustainability in partnership with community organizations including local nonprofits TROSA and Goodwill. For more than 15 years, the program has helped students donate unwanted items during year-end move-out rather than sending them to the landfill.
Donation bins are set up in every residence hall on campus, plus Duke off-campus housing, including Blue Light, Lancaster, 300 Swift and 301 Swift. Residential students are notified through all closing communications and during their closing floor meetings led by their Resident Assistants in early April. The donations bins remain in the residence halls for about two weeks during the move-out period.
Donation bins are placed in every residence hall, with the number of bins increasing this year. Last year, 64 bins were placed in 48 locations – with nearly 60,000 pounds of donated materials collected through the program. This year, 101 bins were placed across 64 locations.
Duke also expanded outreach efforts this year through partnerships with the Office of Off-Campus and Community Life to share more information with off-campus students about donation options, including TROSA pickup services for large or bulky items. The university also continues summer collection efforts for graduate students at Lancaster Commons and 300 Swift.
In addition to the Move Out Donation Program, Duke University hosts more programs to encourage reuse and circularity. Examples include:
Devil's Thrifthouse: Duke University's Office of Climate and Sustainability (OCS) developed the Devil's Thrifthouse, which is a free, pop-up thrift store on campus. The OCS and its Green Devil interns facilitate several pop-up events throughout the year. In 2025-2026, more than 2,500 items were donated, 2,000 of which were recirculated to over 615 members of the Duke community. Any remaining items are donated to TROSA or to The Scrap Exchange. The OCS, in collaboration with Duke Kunshan University students and staff, also host a Thrifthouse event for students who are studying abroad at Duke University in Durham, as a way for fall semester students to share items with spring semester students and vice versa.
K-Ville Tenting Donation Drive: Duke University's Office of Climate and Sustainability, in collaboration with Duke Student Government and the Duke Sustainable Athletics Group, gather tents, tarps, and other usable items when students move out of K-Ville after basketball tenting season. This past spring, Duke collected 50 tarps, 21 sleeping bags, dozens of sleeping pads, 10 tents and other items, which were donated to the Switchback Gear Collective and the BaggingIt4Kids program.