Among the physical signs of the end of the academic year is the accumulation of unwanted household items, clothing, and food left behind by students graduating from Penn or just leaving for the summer. While there is a long-standing coordinated effort to collect items from students moving out of Penn’s College Houses, there has been less attention paid to what the students who live off campus leave behind. Too often, sidewalks and curbs in the streets surrounding Penn look like the leftovers from a yard sale once Commencement rolls around.

Recognizing the responsibility of Penn to be a good neighbor in our West Philadelphia community, this year a partnership was formed among Penn Sustainability, Penn’s Office of Social Equity and Community, the Office of Government and Community Affairs, and a few student groups to provide off-campus students with means and opportunity to dispose of their unwanted belongings.

This coalition of Penn offices and student volunteers created a three-pronged process for off-campus moveout. The options included a multi-day collection site at nearby Resurrection Church, increased trash pickups (3x/week) from the Philadelphia streets department, and a Philadelphia Furniture Bank collection truck that made its rounds on May 18 to pre-registered addresses. Thirteen student houses participated and nearly filled two trucks. 

While there was still waste on streets during peak move out times, streets were cleaned up more quickly and neighbors reported fewer issues than in previous years. All collected items will make their way to needy Philadelphians, refugees who have been resettled in our area, or held over for next fall’s incoming international students in need of basics like lamps, refrigerators, tables and chairs. 

Read more about the 2024 Move Out cleanup efforts https://www.sustainability.upenn.edu/get-involved/opportunities/campus-move-out