The annual Spring Move Out Project (SMOP) for students living off campus in the Burlington metro area accepts unwanted items like furnishings and household goods to collection points on lower Loomis Street (Friday, May 19 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.) and lower Buell Street (Tuesday May 23 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.).

Timed when leases end in May, SMOP is a community-wide swap, recycling and trash event that diverts usable items away from the landfill while insuring that unusable items are disposed of properly. Residents looking to pick up free items are also welcome! The event is organized by UVM’s Office of Student and Community Relations (OSCR) with partners Burlington Permitting & Inspections, ResourceVT, Burlington’s office of Community and Economic Development, Casella, Myers, Chittenden Solid Waste District, Sleep Well Recycling and Champlain College.  

"We had to scale back this event during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to a trash-only event without volunteers to maximize community safety," explains john mejia, associate director of student and community relations. "While this helped keep the streets clean, it didn't have the warmth and supportive feeling that this event is known for statewide. This year we're back at full speed and providing more offerings and resources, including mattress recycling.”

Students can bring undamaged furniture and household items like coffee makers or lamps in good working order to the swap free of charge. There will be a fee for damaged furniture and other unusable household items disposed of in onsite dumpsters. Depending on size and weight, charges typically range from $5-$25. Students can also recycle mattresses for a small fee.

For suggestions on where to recycle other items and other helpful tips to make your move out plan as smooth as possible, visit the OSCR website.