Fan district provides dumpsters
VCU, the Fan community and the city of Richmond are working together to provide dumpsters for students to throw their trash in, rather than leave it on the sidewalk as students beginning moving out for the year.
Stefani Zenteno
Contributing Writer
VCU, the Fan community and the city of Richmond are working together to provide dumpsters for students to throw their trash in, rather than leave it on the sidewalk as students beginning moving out for the year.
“We love living in the Fan and this is a unique component of our city and we embrace it,” said Bill Montgomery, the current president of the Fan District Association board of directors. “We just want the student population to be a little more respectful when they move out. Don’t trash our street. We are giving you an alternative resource so use it.”
Montgomery said the Fan community has had great relationships with the student population and that the only real issue is what students leave behind in the streets when leases run out and students move out in May.
“Students who are graduating or not graduating but are moving on, put all their trash, stuff nobody wants, on the sidewalks and that’s not legal, it’s not wanted and it’s a burden.”
The Fan District Association is providing the dumpsters to give students a resource to take care of their unwanted belongings. Greg Felton, a member of the VCU Police Department, is taking a lead on this issue.
“This year we’ve done a lot more effort coordinating with Goodwill, they are going to take away anything that can be recycled or used again, but if it is trash, the dumpsters are going to be there for that reason,” he said.
According to Felton, the dumpsters are going to be there from May until the first week of Sep., shortly after the beginning of the new school year. Felton said there will be a “no parking” sign in front of and behind the dumpsters as well.
“If people park in those areas, the dumpsters can’t get dumped. We are going to be towing cars,” Felton said.
Montgomery said he wants to remind students to be respectful and responsible because this is a health and safety issue as well.
“They are offering us a free service, some places will charge you for getting rid of big items like sofas or tables. I think is really cool that VCU and the city is doing this,” said Ann Ghoshe, a criminal justice major.
Other students agreed that this program is a positive implementation. Nicole Skye, a psychology major, said some of the items that can’t be used again can be recycled.
“Thrift stores will have more homegoods to sell, it’s a win-win situation for everybody because students dispose of things they don’t want and stores like Goodwill make money,” Skye said.
