Austin Resource Recovery

Collage showing Austin Resource Recovery staff, collection vehicles, and colorful curbside bins.

MoveOutATX

A person hands off a donation to a MoveOutATX volunteer at a donation station.

Make moving out easier with MoveOutATX

MoveOutATX is a seasonal donation program that helps University of Texas at Austin students in the West Campus area give gently used items a second life. During summer move out, curbs and dumpsters often overflow with reusable goods. MoveOutATX sets up conveniently located donation stations where students can drop off unwanted items instead of sending them to the landfill.

MoveOutATX began in fall 2017 as a pilot program following an eight-month, community-led planning effort organized by the City of Austin. MoveOutATX now partners with the University of Texas at Austin Office of Sustainability and UT Office of the Dean of Students to reduce waste, support local reuse organizations and make the move-out process easier for students when apartment leases end on July 31.

Community impact

    MoveOutATX supports a cleaner Austin by:

    • Promoting the donation of unwanted items during campus move out and keeping usable items out of landfills.
    • Creating a repeatable, scalable process that’s supported by the community.
    • Providing economic opportunities for local reuse organizations.
    • Reducing cleanup costs for property managers and landlords.
    • Improving neighborhood safety, cleanliness and appearance during the move-out period.

    (Last updated August 2025.) Since the start of the program, MoveOutATX has:

    • Diverted 270 tons (4,765 cubic yards) of material from local landfills. (That’s about the weight of 55 African elephants, or enough to fill 34 semi-truck trailers.)
    • Recovered materials worth nearly $640,000.
    • Remhomed nearly 2,800 pieces of furniture through the Free Furniture Market.
    • Partnered with 16 local organizations over the life of the program.  

    Speak out on proposed waste management district

    The City of Austin is exploring the creation of a waste management district in the West Campus area and is looking for community input. A waste management district could allow the City to coordinate services such as trash, recycling, composting, and bulk item pickup. Do you work, live or spend time in West Campus? If so, please take a moment to share your input. It takes less than five minutes! 

    Share your input through a short survey