WWU, city plan neighborhood recycling effort June 10 to 14

Western Washington University and the City of Bellingham are partnering to sponsor the sixth annual “WWU Moveout Madness” event in several neighborhoods near the university on June 10 through 14.

This program will target neighborhoods with high student populations, including Happy Valley, Sehome, York, South Hill and Samish. One collection point will be set up in each neighborhood and students will be encouraged to bring their reusable household items, recyclable materials, and landfill items to that point for collection and disposal at no charge.

The neighborhood collection sites, which will be monitored by City of Bellingham Public Works staff to ensure that no hazardous or garden/yard waste is disposed of in the dumpsters, will be operational from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, June 10 through Friday, June 14 the following collection sites:

  • Happy Valley Neighborhood – gravel parking lot, 26th and Douglas streets
  • Sehome Neighborhood – Laurel Park, Indian and Laurel streets
  • York Neighborhood – Franklin Park, 400 block of Whatcom Street
  • South Hill Neighborhood – Armory Building, N. State and Pine streets
  • Samish Neighborhood – Lincoln Creek Transportation Center parking lot

In the past, neighborhoods with high densities of student residents have been littered with improperly discarded items at the end of each academic quarter and the close of spring quarter when many students leave the area for the summer. The WWU Moveout Madness program provides an opportunity for students to donate reusable items, recycle materials, and dispose of landfill waste properly. Reusable items will be donated to a local non-profit organization. Because of the success of the program the past several years, the university and city are once again offering this service. This program is a part of the WWU Office of Sustainability’s Zero Waste Western program.