Do your bit for the planet and avoid waste.

As the move-out date approaches for many of you, the UoL Sustainability Team wanted to provide some tips on how to reduce waste, including easy places to donate items both in your hall and in the local area.

A lot is thrown over moving out day. It's best to think ahead to avoid a last-minute mountain of items you can’t pack and take away with you. We suggest you take some time to look through your belongings and think about what you might not be able to take with you.

Avoiding Food Waste:

Did you know - the UK wastes almost 10 million tonnes of food every year, and 60% of this is from the home? Food waste contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, but the good news is, you can do something about reducing your moving-out waste!

What can you do?

Plan ahead to avoid waste: If you currently live in a self-catered hall or a catered hall, but you have cupboard food (sauces, snacks, tins etc.), think about how you can use all your food up before you move out. Could you share it with a friend to use it up before moving out day? Another thing you could start doing now is think about the food you are considering buying - can you use it all up before you move out, or can you do without it for now?

Get some recipe inspiration: There are lots of ways to use up your ingredients. Some websites provide ideas based on an ingredients list, such as Tesco’s recipe finder tool or Supercook. Hubbub also have tips for reducing food waste.

Where can I donate my food items?

Donate to local food banks: local charities and food banks will gladly accept donations of in-date, unopened food items. Cans and non-perishable items are best for donations.

Big supermarkets will often have food donation points near till points.

⭐ If you live or study in Bloomsbury, we suggest dropping food items to:

Life After Hummus Community Benefit Society. Please only drop off during their opening times of Thursday to Monday, 12.30-4.30pm.

Trussel Trust Euston Foodbank. Open times via the link.

⭐ If you live in Eleanor Rosa Hall, we suggest visiting Hackney Trussel Trust Foodbank (Homerton)

Where can I donate non-food items?

All University of London Halls have a permanent British Heart Foundation donation station!

What they can take:

✅ Clothing

✅ Shoes

✅ Accessories

✅ Books, CDs, DVDs

✅ Stationary

✅ Small decorations

✅ Kitchen utensils (please no knives)

No thank you:

❌ Duvets and pillows

❌ Food

❌ Broken or dirty items

❌ Knives

Other items not accepted by British Heart Foundation:

Cleaning products and toiletries: use these up, share with friends, and if you have excess, consider donating to:

Life After Hummus Community Benefit Society: Please note, cleaning products and toiletries must have at least 1/3 left to donate, and no open-top toiletries (e.g. where you use your hand to take out moisturiser)

You can also post things on Olio, a local sharing app.

Other ideas for clearing out sustainably:

♻️ Get selling on second-hand marketplace apps like Vinted or Depop. For gadgets or larger items, explore eBay, Gumtree or Facebook marketplace.

♻️ Ask around and share: you might be surprised how many people at your university might take something you no longer want – particularly if they are staying in London over the summer.

♻️ Live in Garden or Connaught Halls? We are piloting collecting extra waste items such as toiletries and cleaning products from you, directly in your hall. We will send out further information soon.