It’s move-out season in Isla Vista which means thousands of college student residents are rushing to get out of their houses and apartments to go home for the summer.
Walking around Isla Vista in early June, you’ll find furniture abandoned on the curb, and household items left outside in the hopes that someone else will take them. However, many broken and unusable items also get left out, causing massive amounts of trash and waste.
Jenna Norton, Public Works and Sustainability Manager at the Isla Vista Community Services District, said the biggest problems during move out are the amount of large bulky items blocking sidewalks and parking spots. They also see an increase in litter due to people looking through trash to find thrown away items and tearing up trash bags.
“Not only is it ugly, but it’s a very stressful, hazardous time, especially with so many people driving in and out of Isla Vista as they begin to move,” Norton said.
To help reduce the amount of trash and abandoned items, IVCSD is boosting donation opportunities and encouraging residents to plan ahead so items don’t go to waste.
“Try your best to keep whatever you can, because most likely next year, you’re going to need those same items again, and it’s just so wasteful to throw items away just to buy them again the next year,” Norton said. “So do your best to take care of your items, first of all, to ensure longevity and also just make a plan for them.”
Norton said that because of the high turnover in Isla Vista, they have to educate residents each year about planning ahead, getting storage, and donating in a sustainable way.
“With the high turnover rate, people coming to Isla Vista then leaving, it’s hard to create a new status quo and disseminate all of the information and resources every year,” Norton said. “The status quo has already changed in the past couple years, so it’s looking promising.”
For many residents, move out is also a time to make a bit of cash by selling their unwanted items. Just last month IVCSD hosted a community yard sale where residents could sell items in their front yard or at the community center.
Catie Missey, an environmental studies major preparing to stay in Isla Vista for the summer, is moving her stuff from her current residence to her next place.
“The rest of my things that I’m not carrying with me I’m selling to a good friend, but as for my housemates, we’re just trying to sell things on Facebook Marketplace or trying to locate people that aren’t graduating that might want our furniture,” Missey said.
While Missey said she and her housemates have sold a few things online, they have to be careful of scams and make sure accounts are legitimate.
“If you have the means to do it, definitely try to sell to your friends that are staying here,” Missey said. “It makes the whole process a lot easier because you already know them and you’re able to negotiate pricing with them a little easier versus over on Facebook Marketplace it can get a little hairy sometimes.”
Ways to Donate, Get Rid Of Unwanted Items in IV
To reduce the amount of good items going to the landfill, IVCSD hired Junkluggers to pick up donated bulky items in good condition from June 12-15 if residents make an appointment.
For items not in good condition, MarBorg will pick up bulky items left on the curb from June 11-27.
Click here for more information on getting rid of bulky items.
To reduce the amount of litter during move out, Norton said they hired Hauling-4-U to go around Isla Vista to pick up litter and organize bulky items for MarBorg to pick up.
IVCSD’s donation pickup service will pick up clothes, small furniture and appliances, home decor and kitchenware for free if they are in good condition.
Residents can also donate items to the UCSB Give Benefit Sale at select locations throughout Isla Vista starting June 11. Items will be sold back into the community at the Give Benefit Sale on June 21-22.
Click here for more move out resources.
