Even for the most eco-friendly households, moving can make you realize just how many items you have. Or, in other cases, perhaps it calls to attention how many aspects of moving feel inconsistent with an eco-friendly lifestyle. Undoubtedly, relocating to a new home can feel inherently unsustainable, with plenty of aspects that can feel difficult to complete in an eco-conscious way. Despite these challenges, with the right steps, you can transform your moving process to be considerably less wasteful and more sustainable. Curious about how to make your local move more eco-friendly? Discover the best tips from movers in Raleigh, NC!
First, one easy way to transform your move into an eco-friendlier process is to declutter your items. Rather than trashing your unused or unwanted items, opt for selling or donating them to new homes. Especially for your belongings in good condition, even if you no longer need them, there are plenty of people who could get a lot of use out of them. You can always go for the classic, tried, and true option – hosting a yard sale. This is a great method to sell a lot of your items in one place. Alternatively, selling services like Facebook Marketplace and others allow you to sell online quickly and easily, reaching a much larger audience than you may otherwise be able to reach.
Another effective option is to donate your belongings to local second-hand shops. One great advantage of these shops is that they resell the items at a low price, allowing people without the means to pay the original price to have access to valuable belongings they want or need. Plus, you can always give your decluttered items to loved ones who might need the items. If you really can’t find a new home for your belongings and you have to opt to get rid of them, try to find the best ways to recycle them effectively.
If you’re concerned about being eco-conscious during your move, be mindful of your supplies. Sometimes people buy new boxes for moving, but with the wide array of supplies available to you, it’s not entirely necessary. First, if you have boxes left over from packages you’ve received, use those whenever possible. This is a simple way to acquire boxes without purchasing new ones. Another option is to head to a local grocery store or other retailer and ask if they have extra boxes laying around that they would be able to give to you. With this method, you can easily obtain plenty of sturdy, high-quality boxes.
If you’re looking to go a different route, consider reusable moving boxes. These boxes are typically made of heavy-duty, recycled plastic, and many moving companies have these items available for rent. This way, you’re using supplies that you know will keep your items safe and sound in transit, but you also have peace of mind knowing that this reusable option can be used again and again countless times during many people’s moves.
You might be thinking that a moving truck probably has worse emissions than a car, but consider this. Maybe you’re moving locally, and you think that using your own car to go back and forth between your old residence and your new digs will be better for the environment than a big moving truck. However, your carbon footprint would be improved by simply making a single trip with a vehicle that can hold all your items. Overall, this is just an easier and more effective option.
Throughout your move, you will have plenty of opportunities to up your recycling game and ensure you’re doing your best to properly recycle. As previously mentioned, if you need to dispose of any items, you’ll want to do this in an eco-conscious way. With all the different materials you’ll be ridding yourself and your home of, you should consider where each of these materials should be disposed of. If you’re throwing away any electronics, find a local collection place for this type of item. Locating recycling centers around you is a great tactic to make sure all the different categories are properly taken care of, rather than just tossing everything away together. After all, different materials require different methods of recycling, so do your due diligence to help with this task.
When you’re moving, many of the common supplies are single-use plastics that take a negative toll on the environment. Bubble wrap, plastic wrap, packing peanuts, plastic bags, and other materials are not made with sustainability in mind. Even packing paper can have negative effects if not recycled properly. You can invest in acquiring these items from eco-friendly manufacturers, or even more conveniently, you can reuse what you already own. Wrapping your items in blankets, towels, or thick articles of clothing can be just as protective as plastic alternatives. Plus, you’ll need to pack those things anyway, so you save space by repurposing them. This is a really helpful way to cushion your items with what’s already in your home.
Although many of the products manufactured and marketed for moving to involve plastic, especially single-use plastic, there are lots of eco-friendly alternatives that are much more sustainable. Cloth bags can take the place of plastic ones, and other fabric alternatives can offer functional solutions to whatever you’re looking to accomplish. All it takes is knowing that these options exist and seeking them out.
As you’re packing your belongings in preparation for your move, there are bound to be empty spaces that can be wasted if not properly noted. First, you’ll want to make sure your boxes are filled without any large gaps. These gaps can cause jostling in transit, which can result in damage, but they also end up being a waste of space in your moving truck. Being mindful of each box’s weight, fill your boxes fully without making them too heavy to comfortably lift. If your box starts to get heavy but still has empty space, try to fill it with something lightweight like hangers or articles of clothing.
Additionally, be mindful of other items that can serve as vessels for smaller items. Large pots, drawers, and trash cans are frequent offenders for wasted space that can otherwise be used to house your tinier belongings inside. Try to fill any empty space you can, as this can reduce the number of boxes you need and can even lead to using a smaller moving truck.
As long as you know the right measures to take, you can transform your move, making it environmentally conscious and sustainable. Looking for Raleigh local movers who care about the environment? Trust E.E. Ward Moving & Storage Co. with your next move. Our trusted professionals can simplify the process and make moving a dream. Interested in enlisting our help for your relocation? Request a free quote today!
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