When all is said and done, moving home is not known for being an eco-friendly activity. While moving boxes are often made of recyclable materials, there is a lot of additional moving materials that end up in the landfill. Add to that the potential of driving long distances, multiple times and it’s clear that moving isn’t normally associated with “going green”.
But that doesn’t mean that you can’t take steps to make your move more eco-friendly. We’ve pulled together 7 tips to help you transform your next move into the most eco-friendly move you’ve ever seen.
1. Use What You Already Have
Do you know that luggage set you own? And all those Rubbermaid plastic storage containers? Instead of packing those have you ever considered packing in them? Cut down on the amount of moving boxes you need by using the things that are already in your home. Other ideas include dresser drawers, gym bags, backpacks, duffle bags and reusable grocery bags.
2. Get Your Moving Boxes Used
If you’ve packed up all your miscellaneous at-home containers, instead of buying new boxes to pack in, consider finding moving boxes from other places. Hit up your local neighbourhood buy-and-sell group, reach out to friends and family, or head to your grocery store to see what you can find. You can also put a general post up on your social media to see if anyone in your extended network has any moving boxes to donate. If you reach out to enough people and places, odds are you’ll have more than enough boxes to finish up your packing.
3. Think Beyond Bubble Wrap
While moving boxes may be recyclable, most other packing materials are not. From styrofoam peanuts to bubble wrap, these materials will all end up in the landfill. So before you head out and buy a bunch of these materials, try using the items you already have in your home. Towels, bed sheets, pillowcases, and even clothing are great for wrapping your breakable possessions in. And once you’ve exhausted your supply, try to use recyclable materials to finish up—newspaper and paper towels are both great materials that can not only cushion your fragile items but can also easily go into the recycling bin.
4. Only Take What You Need
If you haven’t watched the Marie Kondo series on Netflix, right before you move is a great time to do so. Moving homes is the perfect opportunity to reevaluate your belongings—take a look at everything and think about what you are no longer using. You can donate your unwanted items to a variety of charities—most will even come to your home to pick up larger donations.
5. Dispose Of Any Hazardous Materials In An Eco-Friendly Manner
You may not realize it, but there are a lot of household materials that are hazardous and need to be disposed of in a certain way to ensure it isn’t harmful to the environment. Materials that can be harmful to the environment include acids, ammonia, gasoline, kerosene, motor oil, antifreeze, engine oil, dyes, pesticides, fertilizers, weed killers, paint, paint thinners, cleaning supplies, batteries, and even aerosol cans. Follow the disposal instructions on each different item and ensure it is disposed of correctly. If you’re looking for a little more guidance Toronto’s Waste Wizard can help answer your questions.
6. Pack Your Kitchen Last
Avoid the need to eat out for a week and use paper plates and plastic utensils by either leaving your kitchen as the last room to pack or by strategically packing only some of your kitchen. Make sure to leave out just enough kitchen items to get you through your moving process.
7. Make It One Trip
To move in the most eco-friendly way possible, you need to make the fewest amount of trips possible. Instead of trying to slowly move your things into your new home with a bunch of small trips, focus on one large move. At Trooper Moves, we can handle moves of all shapes and sizes. Get your free estimate now and take your first step towards a more eco-friendly, stress-free move.