What’s Next?Our next step is to increase our Trash to Treasure team, by first optimizing each coordinator’s role, and then adding a third coordinator. The purpose is to have one coordinator focus on the Logistics of the events, another focus on all Marketing efforts, and have the third (new) one focus on Communication with partnered recyclers and charities, but also on volunteer recruitment/events. To further optimize our storage space, sorting events are necessary at the storage. These events would be focused on having volunteers help us sort out the incoming items in categories, making sales more efficient as the items will already be separated in categories that appeal to students. Furthermore, this reduces the need for a great amount of volunteers at the sales.Regarding sales, we are aiming to increase Facilities Sales to two per semester, each lasting two days rather than one. Facilities staff has been constantly asking for more sales and they are the customers from which we get the most revenue in a single sale, taking a lot of items students do not usually buy.

Abstract Trash to Treasure is a student-run recycling and resale program that began in 2005. Since then the program has grown and extended its reach within UT and the city of Austin as well. This program operates through a series of donation drives and sale events held on campus. The Donation Drives happen at the end of every semester. Bins are placed in each dorm on campus during the last two weeks they are open (usually between the last day of class and the last day residence halls are open). Here, students donate anything they no longer want to keep, and it is usually during the Spring donation drive that we collect the most items as it is also move out period. We collect all of these items, weigh and record the amount, and finally sort the items for the next semesters’ sales. For the sale events, every semester we target 4 sales for students and the general UT community, one for UT Facilities staff, one Home Goods Sale for students during move in period, and one Office Supply Swap for UT departments and offices. All items are sold for $1 each. Once sales are over, anything that is left over, we donate to off campus charities and recyclers to make space for the incoming inventory during the next Donation Drive.

Methods

At the beginning of every semester, we plan, schedule and reserve the necessary spaces for the sales, as well as submit the work order forms to Facilities for Events and Moving to help us deliver the items to the location. Two weeks in advance, we begin marketing efforts, poster requests and gathering volunteers. Days before the sale, we confirm volunteers, and the events and moving crew. After every sale, money is counted by two staff members and deposited at Facilities. Two weeks before the Donation Drive begins, we contact off campus charities and recyclers to schedule pickup times to donate our leftover items, and make space available for the incoming items. We also coordinate with DHFS on marketing efforts inside the dorms as well as request permission for the bins. Also, our own marketing efforts are carried out, ordering posters and through social media.

AccomplishmentsThroughout this year, we have increased our inventory as we have become more efficient in clearing the storage allowing us to accept more items. We have accomplished this by partnering with new recyclers and local charities. Besides, during our sales, we have implemented new promotional efforts and discounts, encouraging students and faculty to take more items. We have increased our number of sales per semester, and created new “themed” ones: Office Supply Swap, and Home Goods Sale, with the intention of targeting customer’s needs better and making the sale of items much more efficient.

TRASH TO TREASURETrash to Treasure TeamRosa Moreleon, Tristan Baker

Campus Environmental Center

Fall 2015 - Spring 2016

ProblemUT students and faculty dispose of a lot of items that end up in the landfill, when they are in great condition and reusable or otherwise, can be recycled.

MissionThrough a series of donation drives and sales events, our mission is to divert these items from going to the landfill by collecting and sorting the unwanted items from dorms and departments on campus, and selling the items back to the UT community for $1 each item, or donating to local recyclers and charities.

Key ActivitiesOrganize 5-6 SALE EVENTS on campus, and a donation drive at the end of the semester

Schedule 4-5 PICKUPS with partnered recyclers and charities

Recruit 25-35 volunteers per sale event

Target appropriate MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS

SORT AND RECORD weights of incoming items in 11 categories

Maintain and use storage space as efficiently as possible for additional inventory

Key Metrics & Outcomes19,500 lbs of items and inventory

10 SALE EVENTS, 2 DONATION DRIVES

$6,300 in profits from sales

10,500 lbs of items donated to local recyclers and charities

AcknowledgementsWe cannot thank enough all of the guys that help us from Events and Moving to make these events possible, as well as the Facilities Staff and Student Activities Staff – Kyle St. Nicholas. Furthermore, we want to extend a special thank you to all of those students who have volunteered at our sales events.

Contact InformationRosa Moreleon – Trash to Treasure Co-Coordinatorrosamoreleon@gmail.comTristan Baker – Trash to Treasure Co-Coordinatortristan.baker18@gmail.com

Our team discussing composting materials sorting with patrons. co-hosted by:

Office of Sustainability + Campus Environmental Center

This project is led by students working at:

Office Supply Swap in August 2015 – Collected 3,500 lbs of items from UT Departments and Offices

Storage Space at the beginning of the Fall semester, in August 2015 and after most sales of Spring 2016