Student-Led "Torero Thrift" Turns Campus Waste into Free Move-In Weekend Must-Haves

Before students moved out of their dorms last spring, a group of Changemaker Hub students partnered with the Office of Sustainability to create a sustainable initiative called ‘Eco Exit.’

'Eco Exit' could serve as a solution to the large amount of waste generated when students move out of their dorms every spring. 

Through ‘Eco Exit,’ students were able to put their gently-used dorm items in storage pods, instead of dumpsters, for incoming students to use in the fall. More than 50 mattress toppers were also collected for PATH San Diego, a homeless services center.

And, for the first time during OLÉ weekend, the law school parking lot turned into a makeshift thrift store called ‘Torero Thrift’ where students could “shop” their peer’s dorm items for free instead of buying new items and generating more waste.

“We saved about 4.3 tons of waste that would have gone to the dump. It was a big success at the end of last year and seeing this is awesome because students are able to look around, see what they need and grab it – and it is better that it's getting used,” said sophomore and Torero Thrift student leader, Lilly Tebaldi. 

Microwaves, mini fridges, couches, rugs, art and household items like mugs, vases and hangers were just some of the items available for students to shop. Within the first hour of ‘Torero Thrift’ opening, dozens of students and their families were already browsing for their favorite items.

“People are energized about it and we’re actually making a difference by creating a culture where a lot of people even today said, ‘Hey, next year can I donate this back in for the next group of students?’ That’s what we want to create,” said Juan Carlos Rivas, director of Social Change and Student Engagement at the Changemaker Hub.

Incoming and returning students found everything from small items like closet organizers to large pieces like furniture to help decorate their new USD homes.

“I moved in today, walked in and saw my roommate had a ton of stuff. I felt kind of unprepared so I decided to come to the Torero Thrift and find stuff that I was maybe missing,” said Ricardo Calderon, freshman.

“I think it's a great idea. I think it's a great way for people to not throw their things away, especially as RAs. Once again, at the end of the year, we see people take all their stuff and throw it in the dumpster – this is a great way to reuse it,” said Kaila Getch, junior and RA.

Juan Carlos Rivas says, while his team at the Changemaker Hub was there for support, students took the reins on this sustainability initiative from start to finish and created a new program at USD that, he says, brings the university’s mission alive. 

“We talk about how we care for our environment and Care for our Common Home. This is a tangible example of how we are actually encouraging collaboration and building that culture in which every student from the moment they step into campus, they know this is how we operate. We care for things, we actually repurpose things and don’t produce more waste than we need to,” said Rivas. 

The Eco Exit/Torero Thrift team plan to continue this project again next year during move-out/move-in, and Rivas is dreaming of growing the project into a thrift store on campus one day.