VCU move-out season brings alley dumping complaints

Driving the news: The new campaign — "'Keep it clean, keep it classy' during move out weekend" — is VCU's latest attempt to stop students' annual mass alley dumping.

• May, especially after commencement (which was Saturday), is peak move-out season for students living off campus, VCUPD spokesperson Jake Burns tells Axios.
• When they do, students frequently dump furniture, clothes and household items in the alleys and on curbs, creating headaches for the city and locals.
• Instead, of cluttering alleys, VCU asks students to donate their unwanted stuff, "cram big items into cans," hold furniture for their bulk pickup week — and to please avoid blocking alley access.

Fun fact: VCU gets annual complaints from the neighborhood associations near campus during move-out season, Burns says.

Yes, but: While the annual exodus annoys locals, it's a great time for alley shopping, if you're so inclined.

• Pro tip: The alley hot spots are in the lower Fan, Oregon Hill, Randolph, Jackson Ward, Carver and the Arts District.