Toreros Reduce On-Campus Waste through EcoExit: USD’s Sustainable Move-Out Initiative

It’s estimated that each University of San Diego student produces 640 pounds of waste a year, adding up to 1.6 million pounds annually, with the largest spike during college move-out. In 2025, USD senior and international business major Tristan Mischke-Reeds recognized the amount of reusable items, such as mattress toppers, furniture and appliances, being thrown into the landfill at the end of the school year. With this problem in mind, he turned to JC Rivas, PhD, the director of social change and student engagement at USD’s Changemaker HUB, to put together a team of students to lead USD’s first-ever sustainable move-out program.

Three USD students, including international relations major Kamilia Kaloyan, communication major Aliana Taliaferro and Sociology major Lilly Tebaldi, were selected to research and design an initiative that not only focused on diverting waste from the landfill, but also focused on the root of the problem — students’ move-in consumption. With support from the USD Changemaker HUB and Office of Sustainability, EcoExit (for May move-out) and EcoShop (for August move-in) were born!

As students move out of their dorms, they are asked to donate (not throw away) any unwanted, lightly used items to EcoExit. During move-out week, EcoExit has a donation location (large pods) at every residential area where students can donate used items, including furniture, appliances, mattress toppers, storage shelves, kitchenware, hangers, lighting and more. Then, during OLÉ Weekend (move-in), these items are made available to all incoming students, faculty and staff at USD’s EcoShop event. Students can participate by donating items and also volunteering for EcoExit through two- to three-hour shifts, where they will receive free food, a 24-hour move-out extension and be entered into a drawing to win one of two iPads.

While EcoExit diverted over 8,760 pounds of usable waste from the landfill last spring, the 2026 EcoExit team is hoping to double the amount diverted during this May’s move-out. This year’s EcoExit student leaders include psychology major Harper Murphy, Taliaferro and Tebaldi. They are diligently working to add twice as many donation locations, round up over 100 volunteers and triple the student participation in hopes of diverting over 15,000 pounds of waste.

Taliaferro reflects on her experience from last year. “It was great to see how many students donated last year, but I know our community can be even more eco-conscious if we get more people involved and engaged,” she says. Tebaldi adds, “This initiative is needed here at USD. We saw a problem, and we knew we needed to make a change.” Murphy is hopeful that this “sustainable initiative can become part of USD’s lifestyle and traditions.”

Now, as team members prepare for move-out (May 14-21), they ask students to donate, volunteer and take action to strengthen USD’s commitment to sustainability, one donation at a time. Learn more about the EcoExit move-out program and sign up to volunteer this spring.