UK Recycling breaks record with 18 tons collected during spring move-out
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky's recycling program set a new sustainability milestone this spring, collecting a record 36,355 pounds (18.2 tons) of donations and recyclables as students moved out of campus housing, according to UK's news office.
The Give and Go donation drive collected 28,355 pounds of items, marking a 7 percent increase from 2025. Among those donations were 27,718 pounds of household items and 636 pounds of unopened food. The program also collected approximately 8,000 pounds of used mattress toppers for recycling, representing a 41 percent jump from the previous year when the university first targeted this commonly discarded item.
The expanded results reflect growing student engagement with the university's zero-waste initiatives, which aim to have the campus reach zero-waste status by 2030. "This year's results are a direct reflection of a campus culture increasingly embracing zero-waste practices," said Ryan Lark, zero-waste specialist in Facilities Management. "Our students care about the environment and demonstrate that enthusiasm through their participation in our recycling and donation programs."
Since its inception in fall 2016, the Give and Go initiative has collected 191,867 pounds (95.93 tons) of donations, not including mattress toppers. The program has evolved significantly, now partnering with UK Sustainability, The Thrifty Cat—a free store for students launched in fall 2025—Goodwill Industries of the Bluegrass, and Fraternity and Sorority Life. This year marked the third year of Greek life participation.
Food donations go directly to the Big Blue Pantry to support students facing food insecurity, while clothing and household goods are donated to The Thrifty Cat and Goodwill Industries of the Bluegrass. Erin Geibel, recycling coordinator in Facilities Management, highlighted the importance of partnerships in the program's success. "Our partnerships with the fraternity and sorority community have played a pivotal role in diverting thousands of pounds of items from the landfill," Geibel said.