MoveOutATX
MoveOutATX is a seasonal donation program that helps University of Texas at Austin students in the West Campus area give gently used items a second life. During summer move out, curbs and dumpsters often overflow with reusable goods. MoveOutATX sets up conveniently located donation stations where students can drop off unwanted items instead of sending them to the landfill.
MoveOutATX began in fall 2017 as a pilot program following an eight-month, community-led planning effort organized by the City of Austin. MoveOutATX now partners with the University of Texas at Austin Office of Sustainability and UT Office of the Dean of Students to reduce waste, support local reuse organizations and make the move-out process easier for students when apartment leases end on July 31.
MoveOutATX will return summer 2026.
MoveOutATX donation items and locations
Donations are only accepted during operational hours at donation locations. Operational hours and donation locations will be announced in 2026.
Accepted donation items
- Craft, office supplies and books
- Cleaning supplies (even if they're opened)
- Clothing, towels, bedding (even if they’re torn or lightly stained)
- Gently used furniture
- Household goods
- Hygiene products and paper goods (even if they’ve been opened)
- Home decor
- Kitchen supplies
- Small appliances
- Mattresses (must be less than five years old, clean with no stains, rips, tears or smells. Please protect in a bed sheet and do not drag on the ground.)
- Non-perishable, unopened food items
Not accepted items
- Bags of trash
- Broken, damaged, torn or heavily soiled furniture
- Construction materials
- Large appliances
- Prescription medications
- Wet or heavily soiled textiles
Note: other items may also be accepted or declined. If you're unsure whether your item is accepted, please visit a donation station to ask.
The Free Furniture Market rehomed 641 pieces of furniture in 2024
What is the Free Furniture Market?
The Free Furniture Market is a public event where gently used furniture collected through MoveOutATX is available at no cost. A local reuse organization transports and restocks items throughout the event.
Visit the Free Furniture Market
Things to know before you go:
- Tickets, which establish your place in line, will not be distributed until 6 p.m. on the day of the market. Please help us keep the area safe and accessible by arriving closer to that time. Early crowding may cause delays.
- You must be able to load and transport items yourself. Make sure to bring an appropriate vehicle and any other supplies you might need, such as a dolly, gloves, tie-down ropes, etc.
- Patrons must be 18 years of age or older or be accompanied by a parent or guardian to enter the market, and a signed liability waiver is required for all.
- Items will not be available for pickup at any donation station. Items can only be picked up at the Free Furniture Market location. Items will be available on a “first-come, first-served” basis. We cannot hold items.
- Depending on supply, there may be a limit of two items per person.
- Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the market closes to give yourself time to browse and load up.
- The market does not have public restrooms and only has limited shade.
Goal of MoveOutATX
MoveOutATX supports a cleaner Austin by:
- Promoting the donation of unwanted items during campus move out and keeping usable items out of landfills
- Creating a repeatable, scalable process that’s supported by the community
- Providing economic opportunities for local reuse organizations
- Reducing cleanup costs for property managers and landlords
- Improving neighborhood safety, cleanliness and appearance during the move-out period
Impact of MoveOutATX
- Diverted 249 tons (4,255 cubic yards) of material from local landfills since the program began. (That’s roughly the weight of 50 African elephants, or enough to fill 30 semi-truck trailers.)
- Recovered materials worth approximately $592,711.
- 1,718 pieces of furniture were rehomed through the Free Furniture Market.
MoveOut ATX key partners
- UT Austin, Office of Sustainability promotes daily campus sustainability at The University of Texas at Austin by assisting student environmental groups like the Campus Environmental Center, stewarding the campus’ Sustainability Master Plan, facilitating research and projects through the Green Fund, and loosely coordinating the oversight of sustainability throughout the university.
- UT Austin, Office of the Dean of Students provides a variety of student support services along with opportunities for leadership experience, varied student work environments, engaging programming, and specialized resources such as their off-campus housing finder and ways to explore off campus.