By: Maura McCampbell, Marketing & Community Programs Coordinator
There are some certainties in life. Loyal Pirates fans know that they can enjoy the annual October re-broadcast of the 1960 World Series Game 7 at the former Forbes Field. You'll always find an M&M at the bottom of a Dave and Andy's waffle cone. And without fail, every summer, students move out of their apartments and leave piles of stuff on Oakland’s sidewalks and streets.
OPDC and Pitt have teamed up to address that annual phenomenon with a program called Clutter for a Cause. The program began as a sustainability initiative on Pitt’s campus, encouraging students in the dorms to donate their unwanted accessories, clothing, décor, etc., rather than just pitching it as they moved out in April.
OPDC joined forces with Pitt in 2018 to extend that program off-campus. In doing so, we reduce the stress of move-out on Oakland’s neighborhoods, Pittsburgh’s landfills, and our global resource cycle.
Now Clutter for a Cause donation events are during peak lease turnover times throughout the summer. There are in-person drop-off locations and a curbside pickup service that make it easy for students and neighbors to donate unwanted but usable items. Students can buy these items for low prices at the August Thriftsburgh sale. Any leftover items go to donation centers throughout the Pittsburgh region.
This year’s Clutter events kicked off in late April with a weeklong on-campus donation drive and an off-campus collection at the Sennott Street lot. Students were able to participate safely in accordance with COVID-19 move-out precautions. “I am encouraged by the turnout at the first two Clutter events this spring,” said Erika Ninos, Sustainability Coordinator for the Division of Students Affairs (Office of PittServes). “We have diverted over 8,000 pounds of textile waste from landfills, collected over 1,400 pounds of food for local food pantries, and filled half of a 48-foot trailer with household items that will find a new home with Pitt students or community members for this coming year.”
This program would not be possible without the dedicated work of Pitt’s Student Office of Sustainability, the Office of Community and Governmental Relations, and OPDC. Staff and students are busy behind the scenes advertising, collecting donations, inventorying, and re-homing items. OPDC spreads the word to Oakland residents and landlords, organizes the curbside pickup service, and coordinates redistributing our donations to community partners.
“For years, both as an Oakland resident and as someone who truly believes in reducing waste, it would break my heart to see perfectly usable furniture, food, and housewares get dumped in the trash during student move out season,” said Liz Gray, OPDC’s Neighborhood Quality Consultant. “Not now. The Clutter team rescues furniture and more from the landfill, and that puts a smile on my face.”
There are three more opportunities to donate to Clutter for a Cause this summer, and donations from non-students are welcome. We will have a donations station in the Quality Inn parking lot (3401 Boulevard of the Allies, behind Panera Bread) from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on June 28, July 26, and August 9.
“The curbside pickup service was quick, easy, and cordial,” said Amera Khalil, a south Oakland resident who donated to the June 1 Clutter collection. “I was glad to donate to a meaningful cause that connects people with needed resources.”
To sign up for our contactless, curbside pickup service, please complete this google form before each collection date. We do not accept upholstered furniture, mattresses or mattress toppers, or carpets. You can find a complete list of accepted items and event updates here.
For questions, contact OPDC’s Maura McCampbell at mmccampbell@opdc.org or 412-621-7863 ext. 111.