Don't ditch it. Donate it.

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The Don't Ditch It project at Lancaster University is a sustainability initiative designed to reduce waste and promote a circular economy on campus.

Each year, between May and September, donation points are set up across the University, allowing students to donate unwanted clothes and household items as they move out of their accommodation. These items - including clothing, kitchenware, books, and more - are then redistributed to local and national charities or resold at a large discount to incoming students, preventing them from ending up in landfill. The project supports environmental sustainability and provides students with opportunities to gain valuable work experience by participating in its operations.

Donation hubs

When the time comes to move out of your student accommodation, you can also donate at one of two donation hubs that will be set up on campus. The drop-off hubs are located at the Ecohub on Alexandra Park Drive (SW campus) and the North donation hub on North Drive (behind County College).

Opening times:

May - Monday and Wednesday evenings 6-9pm from Monday 12 May

June and July - Monday to Friday evenings 6-9pm

What you can donate

The donation hubs accept donations of:

  • Clothing, shoes and accessories
  • Furniture
  • Kitchen items
  • Books and stationery
  • Unopened cosmetics and cleaning products
  • Clean, washed bedding sets

We cannot accept donations of duvets, pillows, broken or dirty items, food, or knives.

EcoHub - South donation hub
EcoHub - South donation hub
British Heart Foundation donation bin on campus

British Heart Foundation

As part of the Don't Ditch It campaign, you can donate all year-round at one of our new British Heart Foundation (BHF) donation bins that are dotted around campus. 

BHF estimates that each donated bag raises £14 in money for their research and makes a real difference in helping to support a range of services. For example:

  • 10 bags could fund a full day’s BHF heart nursing care.
  • 100 bags could help find a cure by funding a young scientist for seven days.
  • 1,000 bags could help 40 young heart patients to gain independence.

What you can donate

The donation bins accept donations of:

  • Clothing
  • Shoes and accessories
  • Kitchen items
  • Books
  • Electricals

BHF cannot accept donations of duvets, pillows, broken or dirty items, food, or knives.

Donation locations

You can find a map of our British Heart Foundation donation bins on mazemap. They are located in the following areas:

  • Bowland Hall Avenue (near the Welcome Centre)
  • Lancaster Square Avenue (County College)
  • Furness accommodation
  • Fylde accommodation
  • Pendle Avenue (near Grizedale Bar)
  • Graduate Avenue

  • Donation station

    The donation station inside ReStore is an easy and central point on campus for donations and recycling, with space for donating clean, preloved clothing, home, accessories, foodbank items, used bras, and a section to recycle used pens and whiteboard markers.

  • ReStore donations

    You can also donate items directly to ReStore during their opening hours - Monday-Friday 11am-5pm. Items donated to ReStore will be resold within the store and money raised will go to local charity, St John's Hospice.