4 Ways to Make Your Move More Eco-Friendly

A few weeks or months from now, you plan to move your household from one location to another. In the past, you might not have considered the environmental impact of moving. But now you wonder about how you can make the process as eco-conscious as possible. Fortunately, you have a range of options that will help support this worthy goal. Here are four top ways to make eco-consciousness a convenient priority for your upcoming move.

1) Reduce Your Use of Boxes and Packing Materials

Many people buy boxes and packing materials specifically for their planned relocation. However, you can reduce your ecological footprint by obtaining your required supplies in other ways. One step you can take is acquiring recycled cardboard boxes. Local businesses are often good sources of previously used containers. Grocery stores, in particular, tend to dispose of their cardboard boxes regularly. In the age of social media, you may also find groups in your area dedicated to supporting ecological moves. Members of these groups trade boxes back and forth as needed. Also, you can find convenient substitutes for boxes made from cardboard. Things you may already have in your possession include reusable grocery bags and plastic storage bins. You can also use dresser drawers or suitcases you don’t need for storing clothes. Instead of using Styrofoam peanuts as a packing material, you can choose a variety of alternatives. A short list of potential options includes:

• Blankets or other bedding
• Bath towels
• Dishtowels

Also, you can fill void spaces in your moving boxes with old newspapers or magazines.

2) Donate or Recycle Unused Belongings Before You Move

If you’re like a lot of people, you may feel the urge to pack up your entire household when you move. That’s understandable, but it can do more harm than good, both in the short and long term. From an organizational standpoint, pack rat tendencies can make it harder to set up your new home in an orderly fashion. These tendencies can also lead to a missed opportunity to follow the best ecological practices. While planning your move, consider donating or recycling any unwanted or unused household items. If you have donatable belongings, you can give them to a range of organizations in your area. Examples of these organizations include libraries, schools, Veterans for America, and Goodwill. Potential destinations for recyclable belongings include your municipal recycling system and private local centers.

3) Reduce the Weight of Your Moving Load

This tip overlaps to a large extent with the advice on donating or recycling unused/unwanted belongings. When you reduce the amount of weight you’re transporting, you gain a couple of critical ecological advantages. First, by diminishing your load, you’ll decrease the amount of fuel needed to reach your destination. In turn, reduced use of fuel translates into a reduction in the release of harmful greenhouse gases. Your eco-conscious actions can also make a significant contribution to your financial bottom line. To begin with, you won’t have to pay as much in fuel costs during your move. You may also be able to write off any donatable belongings that you decide not to take with you.

4) Reduce Back-and-Forth Trips For a Local Move

In the moving industry, moves to a new location within the same region or area are called local moves. If you’re moving locally, you may try to save time or money by transporting some of your own belongings yourself. However, from an ecological perspective, this may not make much sense. Depending on the number of belongings you need to move, you may end up traveling back-and-forth many times. In turn, repeated round trips can lead to considerable fuel costs and greenhouse gas release. In many cases, it’s easier and more eco-friendly to skip multiple trips and work with a local mover instead. That’s because professional movers have vehicles large enough to get the job done in a single load.

This approach can save fuel and reduce greenhouse emissions, while helping you preserve your precious time. And if you still plan to transport some things yourself, a mover can help you maximize your packing space. Looking to combine eco-consciousness with an efficient moving process? As you can see, you have plenty of ways to reach your objectives. No matter the size of your move or the distance you intend to travel, remember to consult a moving specialist like Walsh Moving and Storage. We can support every phase of your move, from initial planning to unloading at your final destination.