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4 Ways to Have an Eco-Friendly Move
1. Get rid of your unwanted items responsibly
When you’re packing things that you want to take with you to your new home, even a normally conscientious citizen can be tempted to just start chucking things in the trash can. Try to head off a panicked packing moment by setting up a large box on each level of your home that you can dedicate to any unwanted items you come across while packing.
When you fill up the boxes, drop them off at the local Goodwill or Salvation Army, or another local charity who is in need of these items. Inquire with your local mover, they may also be able to take care of donating those items for you.
2. Come up with a food and meal plan
The last thing you want is to start frantically throwing food away the day before your move. At that point, you probably don’t have time to donate the non-perishable food, and you’re literally throwing money into the trash can.
About two or three weeks before your moving day, stop making trips to Sam’s Club or Costco, and do an inventory of your freezer and fridge. Start making a meal plan based on what you already have and come up with a meal plan for the next two weeks. Instead of making trips to the grocery store in that time, try the farmer’s market where you can get smaller quantities of food, and there isn’t as much temptation to throw extra snacks and treats in your cart.
If you choose Suddath® as your local mover, we will help you make sure your non-perishable goods go to the best possible place. We are partnered with Move For Hunger, a charity that mobilizes the moving industry to take boxes of unwanted food goods during a household move, and gets it to local area charities who need it.
3. Re-use, reduce and recycle your boxes
It’s no secret that during a household move, you will have boxes everywhere. You’ll be building boxes, filling boxes, taping boxes, moving boxes … and then what?
There are a lot of ways to get rid of those boxes in a responsible, and maybe even fun way. First off, one of the most popular ways is to save them for a great Halloween costume – we even have a couple of DIY costume suggestions for you.
Something else to consider is if your library, food bank or even your child’s school might need them. These are places that often need heavy duty boxes to store or transport books and canned goods. There are also websites you can use, like NextDoor or Craigslist, where you can offer up the free boxes for your neighbors who are in need.
If all else fails, of course, remember to recycle.
4. Set up green features in your new household
With this fresh start in your new home, take the opportunity to set up green practices. Maybe create a compost in a section of the yard or set up a rain barrel for watering your new garden. If you don’t have a garden, build one – fill it with fruits, veggies and herbs. Every meal that you make from your own resources lessens your carbon footprint and increases your green thumb.
Those cardboard boxes you have an abundance of, can also be wonderful planters. They make perfect biodegradable planters to start your new garden in if you have a smaller yard.
There are different types of packing services available if you’re looking for help. Feel free to contact us to talk about full, partial or do-it-yourself packing options for your next move.