As University of Kentucky students moved out of campus housing this spring, UK Recycling set a new benchmark for sustainability efforts 鈥� collecting a record 36,355 pounds (18.2 tons) of donations and recyclables through its 2026 move-out initiative.
The Give and Go donation drive, which helps divert gently used items from the landfill, hit a new high this year with 28,355 pounds donated, a 7% increase from 2025. The donations included 27,718 pounds of household items and 636 pounds of unopened food.
UK Recycling also collected about 8,000 pounds of used mattress toppers for recycling, marking a 41% increase over last year, which was the first time the program collected this commonly discarded item.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 results are a direct reflection of a campus culture increasingly embracing zero-waste practices,鈥� said Ryan Lark, zero-waste specialist in Facilities Management. 鈥淥ur students care about the environment and demonstrate that enthusiasm through their participation in our recycling and donation programs.鈥�