Move Out Sale Donations by Surplus Sales

• Small household goods
• Small hard furniture
• Lamps and desk lamps
• Desk organizers
• Chairs
• Small tables
• Nightstands
• Small bookshelves
• Storage bins
• Laundry baskets
• Drying racks
• Mirrors

• Hangers
• Kitchenware
• Pots and pans
• Dishes, cups, and utensils
• Dorm décor
• School and office supplies
• Working electronics
• Fans
• Small appliances
• Reusable bags
• Extension cords and power strips in good condition

Bulky, heavy, or large furniture is not accepted. If you are unsure whether an item can be accepted, please stop by one of our donation containers during posted hours. Staff will make a judgment call based on the item’s condition, size, safety, available space, and resale potential.

What We Cannot Accept

To keep the program safe, organized, and manageable, Surplus Sales cannot accept items that are damaged, dirty, unsafe, incomplete, or unlikely to be reused.

Please do not donate trash, recycling, large furniture, bulky or heavy furniture, couches, mattresses, mattress toppers, bedding of any kind, pillows, blankets, comforters, sheets, towels, clothing, shoes, soft goods, broken furniture, items with stains, mold, pests, or strong odors, wet or water-damaged items, open food, perishable food, opened personal care products, cleaning supplies, toiletries, hazardous materials, chemicals, paint, batteries outside of approved recycling processes, broken electronics, items that require major repair, or items that cannot be safely moved by event staff.

Food is not accepted at Move Out Sale donation containers. Students with unopened, nonperishable food are encouraged to use appropriate food recovery programs, food banks, or campus and community food donation resources.

Items not accepted by Surplus Sales may still have donation, recycling, resale, or disposal options. Each donation location will include suggested alternative resources when available. Students are also encouraged to review Isla Vista Community Services District’s Move-Out 2026 Guidance for additional reuse, sale, donation, recycling, and disposal options.

Before You Drop Off

Please help keep the donation containers usable for everyone. Before dropping off your item, make sure it is clean and in good condition, confirm that all pieces, cords, shelves, drawers, or parts are included, and remove personal belongings from drawers, bags, bins, or containers.

Items may only be donated during posted hours and must be accepted by event staff. Please do not leave items outside containers, outside posted hours, or in unauthorized locations. Items left in these areas may be considered abandoned property or trash, and responsible individuals or parties may be liable for removal, disposal, cleanup, or related costs.

Students who need assistance accessing a donation location may contact Surplus Sales before move-out or speak with event staff during posted hours. Surplus Sales will make reasonable efforts to support students using the donation locations while maintaining safe and efficient move-out operations.

Fall Sale Details Coming Later

Donated items will be collected and stored by Surplus Sales after move-out. Items will then be reviewed, organized, and prepared for resale during the beginning of Fall Quarter.

Sale dates, locations, accepted payment methods, and shopping details will be announced later by Surplus Sales.

When possible, Surplus Sales plans to return sale containers to their original or nearby housing locations, helping students moving in during the fall purchase useful items close to where they live.

This model supports a more affordable and sustainable move-in experience. Instead of students needing to purchase everything new, the Fall Move Out Sale will give students access to lower-cost reused items that may already fit the needs of UC Santa Barbara residential living, such as lamps, organizers, chairs, kitchenware, small furniture, and dorm essentials.

Why This Matters

Move-out can generate a significant amount of waste, especially when students are leaving quickly, traveling long distances, or unable to take everything with them. Many usable items are discarded simply because they do not fit in a vehicle, cannot be stored over the summer, or are no longer needed by the student moving out.

Move Out Sale Donations by Surplus Sales creates a practical reuse pathway for those items. By collecting usable goods during move-out, storing them over the summer, and preparing them for resale in the fall, the program helps reduce landfill waste while supporting students who are preparing for move-in. This effort keeps valuable materials in circulation, provides more affordable options for students, and supports UC Santa Barbara’s broader commitment to sustainability, responsible stewardship, and waste reduction.

Surplus Sales already supports UC Santa Barbara by redistributing, reselling, and responsibly managing excess University property. This move-out donation program extends that mission into student residential communities during one of the busiest transition periods of the academic year.

Community Move-Out Resources

Surplus Sales is excited to co-promote the Isla Vista Community Services District’s Move-Out 2026 Guidance, including information about the Isla Vista Community-Wide Yard Sale and other responsible move-out resources.

Students living in Isla Vista or students who have items that are not accepted at UC Santa Barbara Housing donation containers are encouraged to review IVCSD’s move-out guidance for additional reuse, sale, donation, recycling, and disposal options.

Visit: https://islavistacsd.ca.gov/move-out-2026

Campus Partners and Questions

Surplus Sales appreciates the support of our campus partners who help make this effort possible, including UC Santa Barbara Housing, Residential Operations, Transportation & Parking Services, Campus Sustainability, Distribution & Logistical Services, and the student staff and move-out support teams who support campus operations during move-out.

For questions about donation item acceptance, container locations, or the fall sale, contact Surplus Sales.

For questions about move-out procedures, housing checkout, parking, or residential policies, please contact UC Santa Barbara Housing or your residential community office.

UC Santa Barbara Surplus Sales
Email: SurplusSales@dls.ucsb.edu