Dump & Run® keeps over 30 tons of used, quality goods out of Champaign-Urbana’s dumpsters and landfills each year by making these available to students and community members through the Big Sale. F&S at the University of Illinois coordinates Dump & Run collections during move-out week in May. The University YMCA is not involved and does not receive items or funds from that portion of the program.
Upcoming Events
Dump & Run® keeps over 30 tons of used, quality goods out of Champaign-Urbana’s dumpsters and landfills each year. This project reduces litter and consumer waste, saves space in landfills, lowers dumping costs for certified housing and apartments and provides inexpensive items for folks to purchase in the fall.
For 2025 Summer Community Collections will take place beginning Monday, August 4, through Saturday, August 16, and culminate with the Big Sale on August 23 and 24. All collections and the sale will be held at the U of I Stock Pavilion, in cooperation with the College of ACES and Department of Animal Sciences.
Spring 2025 Collections for University of Illinois Housing will be coordinated by Facilities and Services, and take place during move-out week in May. Items collected during this period are donated to area non-profits, and are not used for the Big Sale. For more information visit https://go.fs.illinois.edu/ or email recyling@illinois.edu.
We look forward to collecting as many great items as we can from our community and hope that you will join us in helping find usable goods a new home. Thanks to the community and the University of Illinois for making Dump & Run a success each year!
2025 Collection Dates:
- Mon., Aug. 4th: 12pm - 4pm
- Tues., Aug. 5th to Fri., Aug. 8th: 9am - 4pm
- Mon., Aug. 11th to Fri., Aug. 15th: 9am - 4pm
- Late pickup day: Wed., Aug. 13th until 7pm
- Weekend hours: Saturdays Aug. 9th & 16th: 9am - 1pm
The Big Sale - 2025
2025's sale will be held over move-in weekend on August 23 and 24, and will provide students and community members with low cost goods for their dorms, apartments and homes.
Saturday, August 23:
8:00am - 3:00pm: $5 admission
Free admission for U of I and Parkland students.
Sunday, August 24:
11:00am - 2:00pm: $3 bag sale and 1/2 price furniture. Free admission for all.
2:30pm - 3:00pm: "Free sale."
Furniture delivery is available for a $10 fee, and is curbside only.
August 2025 Free Pick-Up Days
Free pick-up days for furniture and bikes will be held on Saturdays, August 9 and 16, from 9am - 4pm
On these Saturdays the Y will pick up furniture and bikes for free! Curbside service is preferred.
Please select only ONE day for your preferred collection time. We will do our best to accommodate your preference, however based on the number of responses your collection window may fall outside your selection.
We are only able to pick up large furniture and bikes on these days, if you have smaller items to donate please arrange to drop them off at the Stock Pavilion during the dates and times listed above.
CLICK TO REQUEST PICKUP
WE COLLECT
Furniture, dishes, glassware, pots & pans, mini-fridges, small household appliances, working computers and electronics, bicycles, office & school supplies, nearly-new clothing, books, toiletries, lawn & garden, artwork, vinyl & cds, musical instruments, sporting equipment & other household goods.
WE DO NOT COLLECT
Non-flat screen televisions, paint, child/infant car seats, cribs, helmets, full size fridges, stoves, washers, dryers and other large appliances, non-working electronics & computer parts, sleeper sofas, mattresses, foam mattress pads, large entertainment centers, Christmas or holiday decorations, badly ripped, stained, or soiled furniture, or large exercise equipment.
NO CRT TVs OR MONITORS ACCEPTED.
The University YMCA and Stock Pavilion are monitored for illegal dumping. While we would love to save every item, we simply cannot responsibly dispose of bulky TVs and monitors. For more information on electronics recycling, please visit: www.champaignil.gov/recycling
FAQs
Are there Spring Collections?
For UI students, Facilities and Services now conduct Dump & Run® collections for campus Housing during move-out week in May. For more information on spring collections, visit go.fs.illinois.edu/dumpandrun, or email recycling@illinois.edu. The University YMCA is not directly involved with the spring program, nor do we receive any items or funds from the University from that program.
How can I volunteer?
Dump & Run ®requires over 1,000 hours of volunteer time each year to operate, and we would welcome your help! Volunteers are needed to help collect, sort and price items, conduct furniture pickups, work the Big Sale, and other tasks. To view available shifts and sign up, click the link below.
Sign Up to Volunteer
What kinds of items does the Y accept as donations?
We will only accept clothing that is in nearly-new condition. Other than that, we will take just about anything ranging from furniture, working electronics, backpacks, bicycles, school supplies, jewelry, winter clothing, shoes, small kitchen appliances, glassware, CDs/records (vinyl!!), books, working computers, artwork, toys, sporting equipment, non-perishable food items, toiletries, lawn and garden items, and other household goods. If you think an item may not be in good enough condition to be resold, give it to us anyway. Hopefully we can find it a home!
What kinds of items are NOT accepted as donations?
Christmas and holiday decorations, car seats, cribs, and other baby items that require recertification, cassette tapes, helmets, paint, CRT televisions, stoves, washers, dryers, full-size refrigerators and other large appliances, non-working electronics and computer parts, sleeper sofas, VHS tapes, mattresses, pianos, and large exercise equipment. We do not accept CRT TVs or monitors. The Habitat for Humanity store in downtown Champaign may be able to take your donations of stoves, washers, dryers, sleeper sofas, and exercise equipment.
The University YMCA reserves the right to refuse any donation offered, based on but not limited to, its size, weight, and condition.
Where can I take items the Y does not accept?
Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, PACA, Salt and Light, and the Salvation Army are all good options. If your organization would like to be listed here, contact us.
How can I arrange a pick-up for my large donation?
Pickups for furniture and bicycles are held on the Saturdays during collection weeks for residents of Champaign-Urbana (see schedule), and are scheduled on a first-come first-served basis. To schedule a pickup, visit our Furniture and Bicycle Pickup Form. Curbside service is preferred, and we will only accept large items. This allows to maximize the number of households who require a pickup. If you have smaller items, we ask that you drop those off at the Stock Pavilion during collection hours.
What forms of payment are accepted?
The University YMCA accepts credit/debit, check, cash, Venmo, and Paypal. Cash must be in denominations of $50 or less.
What is the “Free Sale”?
After the sale is over, for an hour or two, the remaining items that haven’t been bought or donated to other non-profits are free. We just don’t want to see anything go into a dumpster, so we encourage anyone to come by and collect what they can use for free!
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Real Impact
Dump & Run® keeps over 30 tons of used, quality goods out of Champaign-Urbana’s dumpsters and landfills each year. This project reduces litter and consumer waste, saves space in landfills, lowers dumping costs for certified housing and apartments and provides inexpensive items for folks to purchase in the fall.
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