Eco-friendly Moving Tips

Awareness of the carbon footprint that we are leaving behind is making us conscious about our surroundings. This is especially true on the moving day that requires driving and leaves us with many disposable things. Are you searching for a way to lessen the waste during your move? Do you want your repositioning to go as smoothly as possible, but you want to stay green while doing so? Take your environmental game one step further by following these eco-friendly moving tips:

1. Hire an NYC moving company that has a larger vehicle

Car fuel is making one of the biggest impacts on the planet. Ask your movers if they have a large vehicle that can fit all of your possessions. Rather than making several trips to and from your new address, transport everything at once instead. By doing so, it will greatly reduce the amount of gas used, which we all know is affecting the atmosphere.

2. Reusable moving boxes lessen the waste

The good news about these boxes is that they are made of recycled plastic. The better news is that you can rent them. How amazing it is to transport your items, and not have a huge amount of waste afterward? You can use them for as long as you need, and conveniently stack and take them back. Not only you will avoid a lot of waste, but they are also easy to use. Additionally, plastic is sturdy enough to carry any heavy item.

3. Boxes from the store save the day

Liquor store, book store, grocery store, basically any store near you will use cardboard boxes when getting delivery of their goods. Go ahead and reuse them, just ask one of the local stores in advance to keep them for you on the loading day. There are also some websites like Craigslist or Freecycle where you can find free boxes. Give them another round of use before they head to recycling. Besides being friendly to the surrounding, it will leave some extra money in your pocket. It will be one less expense on the list of often-overlooked costs when moving.

4. Wrap with home items that you already have

T-shirts and other clothes can be handy or old newspapers and kitchen cloths. Tuck those in-between items placed in the moving box. For any fragile items that require bubble wrap, take a look at the next tip.

5. Biodegradable wrapping materials

Some items are too valuable to you or fragile so that they need to be handled carefully and wrapped properly. However, it still doesn’t mean you need to use a ton of plastic bubble wrap. Luckily, there is an eco-friendly bubble wrap made of recycled materials, which will do the job while not harming the environment.

6. Everything becomes a moving box

Every item counts when it comes to eco-friendly moving. If you are packing a pot, fill it up with a non-breakable kitchen item, or if you are packing a bathroom bin, pack it up with cosmetics. Put all of your suitcases to use by squeezing as many clothes as you can inside, as well as your weekend bags, duffle bags; everything can be used as a container to transport things.

7. Skip the heavy plastic covers

Be gentle to the surrounding by avoiding heavy plastic covers. Certainly, there are plenty of things in your home that can be put to use. Think of all the blankets, sheets, any bed covers that you have. If an item requires a plastic cover, opt for something that you can reuse-like a painting cover that you can use for a picnic later on.

8. Avoid plastic cutlery − go for a camping one instead

When your kitchen is already packed, the last thing you want is to dig through the boxes searching for a kitchen item. Moving finds you too busy to prepare meals anyways. During these days, food delivery is often a lifesaver. If you want to reach for disposable plastic forks, avoid those and get yourself a camping-like kit that you can use over and over again. Perhaps a picnic after a successful move will be a perfect occasion to use your new cutlery.  

9. Have you heard about green moving companies?

Why not get a partner while moving and saving the environment? Many moving companies care about the environment. From using cleaner biodiesel fuel to offering trucks compartmentalized with other movers, a professional that has an eco-friendly approach should definitely be your first choice.  

10. Spring cleaning − declutter time

It is always a great idea to do a spring cleaning before your moving day. Get rid of all the unnecessary items before reaching your new home. Be a good sport and donate to charity some of the things you never use. Or get a few extra dollars by making a yard sale. For sure there will be plenty of things ready for the garbage. Go eco-friendly and research online for local recycling services. Not only this step will leave you with only the things you really need and like, but it will help pack easier. By packing lighter, you will need fewer boxes, which directly implies less waste afterward. Having a smaller total weight of your belongings might also affect the cost of the moving company’s services.

You don’t necessarily need to apply all of the above eco-friendly moving tips, just go for as many as you can at the moment. Start getting green by starting small. The important thing to keep in mind is that everything counts, no matter how small or insignificant it might seem. While searching for your eco-friendly tools, get an estimated price quote from NYC moving company.