This past weekend, the University YMCA held its recycling project and fundraiser, “Dump and Run”:https://www.dailyillini.com/index.php/article/2011/05/dump_and_run_helps_rid_students_of_unwanted_items. Items that some students are tempted to throw out could find new homes at this annual campus event.
Kasey Umland, program director for the University YMCA, said a lot of students are able to easily furnish their apartments by using “Dump and Run”:https://www.dailyillini.com/index.php/article/2010/08/ymca_holds_9th_annual_lsquodump_and_runrsquo_event. At the sale students could find couches for $15 or chairs for $10.
“International students who may not be able to bring a lot into the country with them really benefit from this,” Umland said.
Li Chen, graduate student, volunteered at the event Sunday. He said the event has been going really well this year and is a huge aid to many students.
The project not only helps students looking to buy things cheaply, but it also “helps the community”:https://www.dailyillini.com/index.php/article/2011/05/organizations_look_to_help_students_recycle_during_moveout. In its 10 years of existence, Dump and Run has prevented about six semi-trailer loads of items from becoming trash every year, Umland said.
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“It really helps save a lot of unnecessary waste,” said Ann Rasmus, YMCA program coordinator.
Dump and Run is the YMCA’s biggest recycling project and one of its major fundraisers. Umland said she was glad to see the city of Champaign becoming more of a recycling advocate with its new recycling bins located around the city for student to dispose of boxes from move-in.
The University does a good job of encouraging recycling on campus, Umland said.
She said everything thrown away on University property is sorted into what can be recycled.
“I think it is different now because people are starting to grow up recycling all the time,” Umland said.
She said she expects about $20,000 in profit from the event this year.
The money all goes to the student programs funded by the YMCA.
“This project really works because most people want to find a home for stuff they can’t use,” Umland said.
