Move-In Move-Out Task Force | Sustainability Hub for Innovation & Environment

Each school year begins and ends with a surge of waste—boxes, packaging materials, and plastic during move-in, followed by piles of unwanted items during move-out. To tackle this challenge, Northern Michigan University launched its Sustainable Move-In/Move-Out program.

Since its start, we’ve been collecting baseline data, reducing waste where we can, and developing new strategies to expand and strengthen the initiative in the years ahead.

Together, we can move more mindfully and help advance NMU’s campus-wide sustainability goals.

Learn more about NMU’s sustainable moving efforts below.

To reduce waste at Move-in, seven roll-off dumpsters are designated exclusively for recycling, and placed across campus. Volunteers from NMU and the Marquette community play a key role by helping to sort materials and by educating students and families on what can be recycled and how to continue recycling on campus throughout the year.

Past Years Waste Diversion

2025 - 6.31 tons

2026 - 4.74 tons

Scroll down for more information and resources on Move-In

To reduce waste during move-out, the Sustainable Move-In/Out Task Force partnered with Ripple Effect to expand Stuff Swap, a long-standing campus tradition.

At Stuff Swap, students can donate items they no longer need or want, while others are welcome to take those items home—for free. The event not only helps students declutter and save money, but also significantly reduces the amount of usable goods that would otherwise end up in the landfill.

During the academic year, students can drop items at the fit zone swap shelf, the free-store (located in Gries Hall across from the food pantry) and the two on campus clothing swap bins.

Scroll down for more information and resources on Move-Out

The main waste that NMU produces during move-in is cardboard. In order to ensure that as much of this cardboard is recycled as possible, we have designated recycling locations next to move-in areas.

Stuff Swap - Have clothes, gently used school supplies, or other small items that you need to get rid of? Interested in helping out? Click here to sign up to volunteer to help out with the Stuff Swap.

Collection tents - All roll-off dumpster locations will have a large tent next to them. This is a place to bring your items that you were planning on throwing away, that someone else could use.