Scheduled Clean-Outs of Student Refrigerators

🧹 Scheduled Clean-Outs of Student Refrigerators 

• Weekly Purges: Communal refrigerators at ITP/IMA undergo a mandatory “purge” every Monday at 10 am.  Any items left inside — including Tupperware or unopened containers—are usually thrown away to maintain sanitation.
  If you have a class or other responsibility that Monday morning, you can label your food with that day’s date, and it won’t be thrown out.
• End-of-Semester Shutdowns: Before major academic breaks (such as Thanksgiving, Winter Break, and Spring Break), all communal refrigerators are completely emptied and cleaned.

🚫 Strictly Prohibited Items

• No Alcohol: Under the standard NYU Housing and Student Conduct Policies, storing alcohol in any communal or common area refrigerator (including those in lounges, hallways, or shared institutional spaces) is strictly prohibited, regardless of whether you are of legal drinking age. 
• Perishables Past Their Prime: Moldy, expired, or unsealed items that compromise public hygiene are subject to immediate disposal by staff. This goes for take out containers with “some left” – or drink cups half full – any such items may be disposed of without warning.  

🏷️ General Rules of Use

• Labeling Is Key: Anything placed in a shared or communal refrigerator must be clearly labeled with your name, date, and contact details. Unlabeled items are frequently cleared out during routine weekly maintenance.
• The “Eat Your Own Food” Rule: Respecting other students’ property is fundamental to the NYU Student Conduct Policy. 
• NO GIANT SHOPPING BAGS PLEASE!  Hundreds of students need refrigerator access – we cannot accommodate big bags full of food for days on end.
• Clean Up After Yourself: If an item spills, leaks, or sticky residue is left behind, users are expected to wipe down the shelf immediately.
• Composter: ITP/IMA maintains a composting machine on the floor next to the kitchen.  Please dispose of your food scraps there instead of in the trash when possible.