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May 2026 - Sustainability Blog

As the semester ends, students across campus begin packing up their things and heading back home. Historically, this period leads to a significant increase in waste, from discarded clothing and household goods to unopened food items. Through small, intentional choices, you can help reduce this impact and ensure that useful resources remain within our campus and local communities.

Leaving the semester sustainably is an extension of the values we practice throughout the year by reducing waste, supporting one another, and stewarding resources responsibly. Here are some ways you can choose to be a sustainable seahawk:

Diverting Clothing

Fast fashion and excess clothing are major contributors to landfill waste. Extending the life of clothing reduces the demand for new production, conserves resources, and minimizes textile waste sent to landfills. Rather than discarding unwanted clothing, we encourage you to explore donation and reuse options. There are several campus and community resources for diverting unwanted clothes responsibly:

  • Swap Shop - A second-hand store directly on campus. Students and faculty can bring any clothes and small household items to be donated, and can shop here for free!
  • Some local consignment stores and organizations that take unwanted clothing are:
    • Vintage Values
    • Fairy Circle
    • 2Share
    • and many more!

Reducing Food Waste

Unopened, non‑perishable food items are frequently left behind during student move‑out, despite remaining safe and usable. Donating food helps redirect nutrition to community members in need by directly impacting food insecurity. Students are encouraged to donate excess food to:

  • Hawk’s Harvest, UNCW’s on‑campus food pantry.
  • Local food pantries and community organizations, such as:
    • The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina
    • The Good Shepherd Center
    • Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard
    • and many more!

Donating Household Items and Personal Belongings

Items such as small furniture, décor, and household goods are often discarded simply because they are inconvenient to transport. Local organizations and reuse outlets provide students with meaningful ways to donate during move‑out. Reuse keeps valuable items in circulation, reduces waste, and supports a more sustainable and resilient community.

  • The UNCW Sustainability Closet Cleanout provides an opportunity to keep unwanted items, clothes, furniture, or food, circulating on campus and in our community.
    • Storage containers are placed near residence halls to collect materials and are open daily for the two weeks between the last day of classes and the final move-out date.
    • Items are donated to the Campus Catholic Ministry, Habitat for Humanity, Good Shepherd Center, Manos Unidas, Vintage Values, Hawk's Harvest, UNCW Library, Our Infant of Prague, and more! 

Our Impact

End‑of‑semester decisions may feel small on an individual level, but collectively they shape the environmental footprint of campus move‑out. Last year, Closet Cleanout diverted over 13,000 lbs. of unwanted items from the landfill to those in need. As you prepare to leave for the summer, consider how your choices can contribute to a more sustainable campus. Thoughtful actions during this transition help ensure that we are not only leaving the nest, but leaving it better for those who follow.