Isla Vista Residents Join Community Yard Sale to Keep Items out of the Landfill
John Palminteri
ISLA VISTA, Calif. – Residents of Isla Vista who are leaving soon, mainly students, are selling off their belongings this weekend in the community wide yard sale.
It is taking place for the third year, and will make an impact at every address.
The yard sale is coordinated by the Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD). Public Works and Sustainability Director Jenna Norton says, “”it’s well known that Isla Vista, produces tons and tons of waste every year during move out.”
The event is expected to divert waste from dumpsters in their community and eventually to the landfill.
It is being held in anticipation of the time when when classes end at UC Santa Barbara. That usually means about 15,000 students leave their apartments and take only what they can stuff in their cars or hauling trucks.
It comes with a website, information about signing up and a map that points out locations where sales will be taking place with specific addresses and also what will be for sale.
There will also be a general “swap meet” type sale at the IVCSD parking lot.
“We have had more sign ups than ever this year. I also anticipate that we will have a very big turnout of shoppers as well, ” said Norton.
Items for sale include clothing, furniture, kitchen ware, household necessities, cooking grills, electronics and bikes.
The IVCSD is promoting the event and the proceeds go directly to those sellers.
The past yard sales were impressive.Henry Sarria a longtime resident. “And, we’ve seen the trash go down. Actually, I’ve got documented proof of it, too. That’s a wonderful thing, you know. It’s reuse, recycle, repurpose. You know, it’s great for the environment. It’s great for the community. “
Friday several items in front of homes and apartment buildings both large and small were left out for the taking which is what the IVCSD does not want to see. They included a toaster, cabinet, couch, ceramic animal, kitchen items, a lamp and a broken TV.
“Yes, people put things on their curbs to be thrown away. And yes, sometimes people will drive by, find something they like and pick it up. But that’s not always guaranteed,” said Norton.
One resident Tillie Rubin says she is ready to sell. “It’s great that I have an easy way to kind of make a little bit of cash without just having to go through like Facebook Marketplace or some other source.”
One of her seven roommates Christina Holmes said, “We’re all looking through our clothes and preparing for the yard sale. We all have a bunch of stuff. Even in our own house means giving each other things, so it’ll be cool to expand it to other people.”
Many of the items are lightly used. “We’re reusing perfectly good items, making community members a bit of money and just creating a fun event that all community members can participate in together before the school year ends,” said Norton.
Rubin said, ” I have a lot of clothes that I want to get rid of, and also some furniture that I can’t take with me. So that’ll be nice to have a place to for it to go. “
The event will be four hours on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2.
Shopper notes:
The event runs Saturday, May 31 from 10 AM – 2 PM
Use the Yard Sale Map to plan your route.
Bring bags and boxes if you need them.
Have cash.