A little planning goes a long way in helping you cut your carbon footprint and avoid some unnecessary stress. Before the big day, a few things can be done to lessen the environmental impact of moving, so we’ve curated some methods to help you move more sustainably. Read through the following tips to learn more about how to go green for your move.
Tips on How to Pack Sustainably
Decluttering before a move goes a long way in saving space, time, money, and with some attention, also the environment. The first step is to take a walk around the house and assess what you’d like to keep. You don’t have to get a whole lot done in a short amount of time and can keep it simple by just listing items on a piece of paper or in a notebook. The more you can do before the move, the better.
If you have a lot of old clothes or furniture, consider donating them to a charity. The same is true for books, electronics, toys, and other items that you find of limited use. An important step prior to moving is getting rid of things you no longer need. Once you’ve gathered your thoughts and have an idea of what you want to keep, you can decide what’s worth donating or selling.
By utilizing online marketplaces, you’ll often find people willing to pick up larger items they’re able to reuse, all with little to no manual labor on your part. Charities and thrift stores are perfect for medium sized items and clothing, and it’s never a bad idea to check the value of small shippable items on sites like ebay. Also talk to friends and family; you may be surprised at how many people you know would love to have a specific item that you no longer need.
Tips for Making Your Move Environmentally Friendly
After donating, selling and decluttering, it’s a good idea to make a checklist to ensure you have taken everything that you need to move, and to begin the actual moving process.
The other aspect of sustainable moving is using reusable and recycled containers. Local stores receive their shipments of goods almost exclusively in cardboard boxes that are on their way to be recycled to begin with, so it’s worth asking their owners if you can have them. If you manage this, you’ll also save money from purchasing fewer boxes. Reducing the number of boxes used will help reduce the space used in the moving truck as well. If you do need to purchase boxes, choose ones that can be reused again and again.
With the environment in mind, the use of plastics, bubble wrap, and styrofoam can be replaced with items you planned on moving anyway such as blankets to protect larger items, and articles of clothing and packing paper for smaller ones. These methods reduce the volume of space taken in the moving truck, and will reduce the amount of garbage produced.
With large gasoline trucks still common, the best way to reduce the impact of moving in regard to transportation is using a local moving service who can take all your belongings in one trip. Able understands this and carefully determines their routes to be the most efficient with sustainability in mind. Contact us today to request a free no obligation quote
