Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania have partnered with waste management startup Rego to reduce move-out trash while contributing to the community, writes Sarah Huffman for Technical.ly.
College students in University City and across Philadelphia often leave unwanted furniture, clothing, and electronics on the curb, with these items end up in landfills. Instead, said Joshua Mastromatto, Rego’s founder and CEO, these goods could be redirected to families in need.
After the platform was tested earlier this year, Penn administrators observed an increase in students donating items for reuse rather than discarding them.
“We want to make sure that our community members understand that these materials are going to good places,” said Nina Morris, sustainability director at Penn.
Rego has been active in University City for five years, assisting with off-campus move-outs and partnering with property management companies such as Campus Apartments, as well as individual apartment buildings.
The platform allows students to select items they want to discard from a list that includes everything from couches to board games. Students attach photos of their items and schedule a pickup time with the school’s nonprofit partner — the Philadelphia Furniture Bank for Penn and Habitat for Humanity ReStore for Drexel.
All items are pre-evaluated by Rego.
Read more about the partnership to reduce move-out trash in Technical.ly.
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