Hit up Athens' ReUse store for details.
To the Editor,
April in Athens doesn’t just bring spring showers. Moms weekend, Greek Week, Number Fest and Finals Week keep students busy. Energy levels on campus remain high due to warmer temperatures and the sad realization that many of us will be leaving this beautiful town at the end of the month, for the summer or longer (cue tears).
I love Athens. As I’m sure many would agree, Ohio University has given me the best four years of my life through unique educational opportunities, a vibrant social life and a supportive Bobcat community. Frankly, as a senior, I don’t want to leave yet. But with that said, there are still little things we can all do to make this community better.
One simple way is to donate any gently used belongings you have at the end of the year. As OU students, it’s easy to limit your world to a bubble of on-campus activities and Court Street. I am as guilty of that as anyone. But we should not forget about the surrounding community that adds character to Athens and makes it even more special.
I strongly encourage all OU students living off campus to contribute to the economic development of the region simply by donating unwanted durable goods when moving out of your apartments and houses. If you’re already planning to get rid of items when you move out, you might as well give them to a good cause. It’s one of the easiest ways to give back.
Why donate? Not only is it easy, but it also helps alleviate the waste problem in Southeast Ohio while contributing to local job creation and economic opportunity.
An estimated 14,000 tons of durable goods (appliances, furniture, other items that can be reused/repaired) were tossed in the landfill in the Athens-Hocking Solid Waste District in 2012. That’s 14,000 tons of materials that could have reused or refurbished, which would eliminate waste and create jobs and opportunity in the local community.
Out of all waste management practices (including recycling), product reuse and repair generates the highest economic return and potential for job creation, due to the high dollar value of the materials and low energy intensity of repair processes.
You can donate your items to local nonprofits such as ReUse Industries. ReUse is offering free pickup of used durable goods at any off-campus residences. Call 740-594-5103 or go to www.reuseindustries.com to schedule a pickup time. ReUse is offering this service from Monday, April 27 through Monday, May 4. Your items can also be dropped off at ReUse’s thrift store at 100 Columbus Road.
Once the items donated, ReUse Industries repurposes and sells them at its thrift store to benefit the local community.
Austin Stahl is an Ohio University senior studying journalism and works for TechGROWTH Ohio, an organization focused on creating opportunity in Southeast Ohio through entrepreneurship and innovative ideas. Information in this letter was taken from the Athens-Hocking Zero Waste Action Plan and reuseindustries.com.
