The Isla Vista Community Services District hosted the first free electronic waste drop-off at the Isla Vista Community Center on May 21 as part of a larger initiative to lessen the impact of waste that move-out season places on the local area. 

The IVCSD hosted the first free electronic waste drop-off as a part of an initiative to decrease waste during move-out season. Lucy Wellons / Daily Nexus

Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD) Public Works & Sustainability Director Jenna Norton coordinated the event alongside IVCSD Waste Reduction & Diversion Program Manager Carly Marto. The IVCSD partnered with The Junkluggers, a waste collection company founded in Santa Barbara, to provide a free avenue for Isla Vista residents to dispose of electronic waste, or e-waste, safely and without cost. This event and others coordinated by the IVCSD are primarily funded through the monthly utility bills of I.V. residents. 

According to Norton, they collected a total of 41 pounds of e-waste at this event. 

“Move-out time can be a real disaster here in Isla Vista with everyone moving out at the same time, and there are very few options to properly dispose of your items or donate your items,” Norton said. 

E-waste cannot be thrown away with regular trash, as it can lead to harmful environmental effects such as contaminating waterways and starting fires in resource and waste recovery centers. The event aimed to prevent e-waste contamination and fires, reduce landfill waste and promote a cleaner community. 

“Usually, people do have some e-waste, and it’s important to dispose of that properly,” Norton continued. 

The Junkluggers, owned and led by Vicente Trelles, offers their services for free to local waste collection initiatives such as the IVCSD. Trelles emphasized the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility by recycling, donating and rehoming items to minimize waste. 

“We donate and we rehome as much as possible all the items that we receive with the purpose of limiting the amount of things that we take to the landfill,” Trelles said. 

 The IVCSD plans on making this event annual in the spring, starting this year as a part of a larger goal to address the disposal and donation of items during the move-out period. 

“Since my department has existed, we’ve worked on a big move-out initiative where we offer lots of different services and opportunities to properly dispose of stuff, information on how to do so, and then also opportunities to donate items that are in good condition. So we’ve just all around been trying to make move out better,” Norton said. 

Norton said that she hoped these efforts would increase sustainability and organization in I.V.

“[I hope there are] fewer items on the street during move out, fewer items leaving Isla Vista to go to the landfill, and just overall, hopefully a cleaner, more organized environment during move out,” Norton continued. 

Norton directed local residents to the IVCSD’s Sustainable Waste Disposal Guide to learn how to safely dispose of e-waste year-round, as well as their website for more information on donation and collection services and future events.