As the academic year is coming to an end and we prepare for the summer, there’s lot to do in regards to changing accommodation. Of course spending those last weeks with are friends is the very important, meaning that packing is normally left to the last minute. Our energy assistant, Bolaji Olaniru has written some tips for you to help with your move!
Packing!!!
So you might not want to take all your items with you when you leave. You might want to get rid of books, old bags, clothes, shoes, hair dryers, whatever! But wait a minute; don’t just throw these items away! You could make some money on these or help those in need – but most importantly recycling your stuff will save a lot of energy and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
And it’s so easy. You’ll have three types of stuff to consider when you leave: Things you want to keep, useful items that you don’t want an obvious waste (which could still be recycled – check out our website for what can and can’t be recycled at King’s).
Items that can be reuse (e.g. clothes and books) charity shops are a great place to start. Why not try a couple of these:
Local Charity shops
These are good for most items such as shoes, clothes and books. We recommend you check before about electrical goods (see below for more options).
Guy’s Campus http://www.hotriccharityshop.com/ – 52 Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 4TR
Denmark Hill Campus: http://www.scope.org.uk/ – 42 Denmark Hill, Camberwell, London SE5 1JL
Strand Campus: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/ – 23 Drury lane, WC2B 5RH
Waterloo Campus and St Thomas’: http://www.tht.org.uk/ -14-15 Lower Marsh, SE1 7RJ
Collection from residences
If you would like someone to collect from your residence instead, you can book collections.
For Clothes look at: http://www.traid.org.uk/clothes-recycling/book-a-collection/
For other Items get out the Gov website: https://www.gov.uk/recycling-collections
Or why not post you items onto Free Cycle? People come and collect you stuff for free J
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
You can drop off small handheld electrical items (smaller than 25 X 31 cm) such as hair dryers, computer keyboards, toasters and kettles in various WEEE bank locations: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/10070/recycling/2550/weee_banks. For really bulky items given them a ring on 020 7525 2000 and they can come and collect for you.
You can also use the King’s service for collecting WEEE waste by completing this form.
Selling your books, CDs, mobile phones and DVDs
Did you know you can sell all of these online and make a bit of money too? All you need to do is log them online and then take them to a local collection point (often a post office or corner shop)
Check out a few of these:
For books, CDs, DVDs, games, electronics and mobiles: Zapper For old mobiles: Mazuma For electronics (mobiles, CDs etc): Music Magpie
Check out Facebook groups for you subjects as well as to sell your old text books – Fresher’s are always looking to buy them e.g. Geography or even Physics.
Still not sure what to do with your waste? Contact us at Sustainability@kcl.ac.uk or call 0207 848 7302 for more help and advice.
