Love When You Leave

Most students have extra recycling and waste when they move house, so it’s important to plan how you are going to manage that extra stuff when you move and find out how you can Love When You Leave.

The Love When You Leave campaign was created to help reduce the amount of waste students throw out when they move and provides an opportunity to donate items to good causes.

This scheme supports students by providing a more ethical and environmentally sustainable alternative to sending tonnes of waste to landfill or incineration each year, which helps the environment and others – something to be proud of!

Check out our advice for students below…

Move out advice and services for students in private, rented households

Moving can be stressful, but don’t worry! There are lots of options available to you to help you manage that extra waste and recycling when you are packing up. It’s simple and convenient.

Weekly Kerbside Collections

Did you know most household waste can be recycled using your weekly kerbside recycling collections? Make full use of your regular collections in the lead-up to your move.

Visit www.cardiff.gov.uk/collections or download the Cardiff Gov app to find out what is collected, and your last collection dates.

Remember, recycling and waste put on the pavement outside of these dates will not be collected.

Donate – Give it, don’t bin it!

Donate any items that can be reused or non-perishable food to local charities. Just search for local donation points to find out how and where to donated items or bring your items to the Love When You Leave donation points. Here are some tips for specific items:

Non-perishable food donations, clothing and other small items – These items can be donated at the participating Love When You Leave or YMCA donation points.

For bulky items like furniture, TVs or large appliances – Contact the YMCA’s Colchester Avenue shop by emailing Cardiff.ColchesterShop@ymca.org.uk or call 029 2049 5114 to arrange a free collection.

Bicycles can be donated to Cardiff Cycle Workshop, a not-for-profit bicycle recycling project based at Unit 9 Gabalfa Workshops, CF14 3AY (just behind the large Aldi’s off Western Avenue). Visit https://www.cardiffcycleworkshop.org.uk/ for more information.

Visit the Household Recycling Centre

You can also book a free appointment to visit the Lamby Way or Bessemer Close Household Recycling Centres. Same-day appointments may be available, but it is best to book in advance.

A wide range of items will be accepted but please be aware that the mixed black bags of waste will be NOT accepted at the recycling centres.

To find out what you can take and book an appointment, use the Cardiff Gov app or visit www.cardiff.gov.uk/recyclingcentres.

Blue Bags for Extra Rubbish

If you have extra, non-recyclable waste, you can purchase a roll of blue bags. Simply fill the blue bags with non-recyclable waste, and place on them kerbside for collection on any day throughout June.

To purchase bags and arrange a collection, email nsofficerenquiry@cardiff.gov.uk

Bulky Waste

If you have bulky waste such as furniture or large appliances, you need to book a bulky collection. A charge may apply to certain items, and it is essential to pre-book collections in advance.

You can book online at: www.cardiff.gov.uk/bulkywaste or on the Cardiff Gov app.

Please recycle and no side waste

Any items that can be recycled, should be placed in the correct recyclable container and not in your black bin or blue bags.

Dry recyclable items like paper, cardboard, tins, drink cans, plastic or glass bottles and plastic containers should go into the green bags and food waste should go into your food caddy.

Your food caddy and green bags are collected every week for free!

Remember, black bags and bulky items should NOT be left next to your bins or in front of your household. This could result in a £100 fixed penalty notice or a prosecution.

Move out advice for students living in halls of residence

Your halls of residence will have their own arrangements to collect additional waste when you move, so speak to your provider to find out how you can recycle more and waste less.

If you live in the halls at Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, or one of the Collegiate AC sites – Eclipse, Crown Place, or the Neighbourhood – you can donate reusable items and non-perishable food at the Love When You Leave donation point located in your building. Just ask at your hall’s reception to find out where your donation point is located.

What can I donate through Love When You Leave?

The only items that cannot be donated are pillows or duvets/quilts for hygiene reasons and opened or perishable food, but you can donate everything else.

A huge range of items are accepted including clothing, shoes, books, kitchen items, electronics, accessories, toys, bags, decorative items and even non-perishable food.

If you would like to donate big items such as furniture, large appliances or bicycles, please speak to your reception, so they can arrange for these items to be collected separately.

Please place any sharp items such as kitchen cutlery or knives into the sharp collection box and not the large donation bin for safety reasons.