Moving out 2023: donate and recycle

Whether you live in halls or private-rented student accommodation, if you are moving out this semester, here’s how you can remove and dispose of your possessions and rubbish in an environmentally-friendly and efficient way. 

Household waste  

Any items that do not fit in your household waste bin should be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) at City Depot Millbrook, First Avenue, SO15 0LJ. The HWRC is open seven days a week.  

Recycling banks  

Head to the Southampton City Council website for information on what you can put in your recycling bin. Excess recyclables that don’t fit in your bin should be taken to the HWRC or a recycling bank. This includes glass, textiles, shoes, and other items that cannot be reused. 

Visit the Southampton City Council website for a map of recycling banks across Southampton and what they are suitable for.  

Donate to charity  

You can drop off any unwanted clothes, books, electrical or kitchen items that you no longer need, but remain in a good condition, to local charities. Here’s a list of just some of the charity shops around Portswood and Southampton City Centre – make sure you visit their websites to check if they are currently accepting the items you would like to donate.

British Heart Foundation (BHF) also run the Pack for Good Campaign, encouraging you to declutter sustainably by dropping off items to various collection points around our halls of residence.

You can find BHF collection points such as clothing banks, donation boxes, and book banks at the following halls of residence across Southampton and Winchester:  

• Archers Road Gateley and Romero Halls  
• Glen Eyre Halls (Brunei, Old Terrace, Hartley Grove, Beechmount, Chamberlain, South Hill, Gower)  
• Mayflower Halls  
• City Gateway Halls  
• Wessex Lane Halls  
• Highfield Halls  
• Erasmus Park Halls, Winchester  

These halls sites also take donations for food items that are in-date and unopened such as pasta, baked beans, cereal, biscuits, etc. Visit the Halls Information SharePoint site to find more information about the locations of these collection points. If you live in halls, you can find further guidance about leaving halls on this page of the site.

Food banks  

If you have any food items that you don’t want to take with you, and you would like to support other students in need, consider donating them to the SUSU Food for All bank. Located in the Southampton Students’ Union Advice Centre on Highfield Campus, the food bank provides tinned, dry and long-lasting food, as well as hygiene products.

Check the Cost of Living SharePoint site for the full list of items accepted by the SUSU food bank. 

Visit the Southampton City Council website to find more food banks accepting donations. You can also drop off food items at various supermarkets across Southampton.