Without a doubt, moving houses is a time-consuming process that comes with a lot of stress and headaches.
And not only is moving already enough hard work, but it also generates quite a waste for the environment.
From single-use packing materials and boxes to belongings and items that need repair or you no longer want, organizing, packing, and moving include a serious amount of pollution.
The concept of zero waste is all about being more sustainable and managing various materials in ways that reduce environmental impact. Considering the significant percentage of relocations whether to a new home, office, city and so on, any effort to minimize your individual waste during moving is definitely worth it.
So, a move is a serious undertaking, but it doesn’t have to be a wasteful one. With the right help and advice and some proper planning, a sustainable moving process is easier than you imagine!
Wonder how to maintain zero waste during a chaotic move?
Here we share a list of helpful tips and ideas on how to eliminate unnecessary waste during a home move that will also spare you some cash.
Why Go with a Zero Waste Moving
Think about all the cardboard boxes, paperboard dividers, protective materials, bubble wrap, and more, used in a single move. Yes, all these supplies keep your belongings and furniture secure during transit, but they end up piled in landfills eventually and add up to the overall pollution of the planet. The same goes for a range of other move-related materials.
Not to mention pre-moving decluttering. It’s a way to dispose of many excess items and make the relocation easier, but everything that goes in the trash is solid waste.
So, committing to a zero-waste moving process is crucial to do your part to keep the environment safe.
Now, on to how exactly to avoid unnecessary waste during a move?
Plan on Time
The first step to a zero-waste move is to make a thorough evaluation of your belongings early enough before you start packing.
According to moving professionals, it’s essential to begin ahead of scheduled relocation so you ensure plenty of time to organize all your items.
Go through all closets, drawers, cabinets, and dressers around the house and separate everything into items to move and stuff that no longer serves a purpose.
- Only necessary belongings that you use regularly should go in the first group.
- The other one should include all old, broken, or unused for years items, units, and other gadgets.
Then, decide how to manage the things that you don’t intend to bring to your new place.
Instead of just tossing them away, there are some zero-waste alternatives. Check out the following options.
Donate Unnecessary Items
What’s a better way to bring a new purpose to stuff you don’t need anymore?
Everything from clothes, furniture, and home decorations to books, electronics, toys, and more is perfect to donate, so it’s useful and valuable to someone else. So, either donate the items to a charity or give them to friends and family.
Sell Excess Belongings
Minimize waste and earn some extra cash by selling belongings in good shape for a minimal interior up-start at your new home.
Various online platforms offer easy ways to sell a range of items and furniture. And a pre-move garage sale is always a good idea, as well. Just make sure to have it early on, so there is time to arrange donations of things that don’t get bought.
Recycle
There are still some old items left you can’t donate or sell? Then, recycle.
Browse the Internet for info on proper ways to recycle old stuff like electronics, toys, clothes, and other supplies. Or, place unnecessary clothes and linens in these recycling boxes, found in every town to get rid of them, so they resourced and recycled.
Take Care of Perishables
Turning off your fridge and freezer at least a few hours prior to moving or even earlier, means to have a plan for your food products.
So, how to preserve them from getting spoiled and avoid wasting them.
- Try to cook and eat all of them the days before you move.
- Ask family, friends, or neighbors to store your perishables in their fridges or freezers.
- Ask them for a camping fridge to put away the food as a temporary solution.
- If there isn’t anywhere to store the perishables, give them away, so at least they don’t get wasted.
Provide Eco-Friendly Moving Bins
Another way to go zero waste with moving is to ditch cardboard boxes. Even if you reuse old cardboard boxes or plan to reuse new ones, either way, they become a waste in the end.
- Instead, opt for plastic moving boxes that let reuse them again and again for years and offer a variety of options to utilize them, not only for moving.
Besides, the moving industry is coming up with more and more green practices, and there are already environmentally-friendly plastic moving bins. And it’s not even necessary to buy them. Suppliers offer rent and delivery options and also pick them up once you complete your move.
- See if neighbors, friends, or family members can land you some bins and boxes to use as a substitute for regular cardboard boxes.
- Check local grocery stores for tray-type boxes with handles on the sides. These work great for pantries, jars of jam and pickles, and other foods that last without refrigeration for some time.
Work with What you Already Have
Another zero-waste alternative when you pack is to use different types of containers and wrapping supplies you already have at home.
- Alongside suitcases, travel bags, and backpacks, your laundry basket, item crates, buckets, and decorative baskets are a smart choice to pack and transport your belongings.
- Reusable shopping bags or pillowcases are great to store smaller and breakable items.
- Use towels, socks, and scarves instead of wrapping supplies to wrap and protect fragile items.
- Blankets and bedding are ideal to cover and secure larger units such as your TV and appliances.
Use Green-Oriented Packing Supplies
What about those of you who still prefer to use regular packing supplies?
You will be happy to learn that the growing market of sustainable products offers biodegradable and compostable materials to wrap and pack with. They come from cornstarch, seaweed, and even mushrooms.
So, consider these as a green alternative to harmful plastic packing supplies.
Professionals say the company is taking a long road to eco-friendly materials to meet nature-friendly policies.
Plan Green Transportation
Make sure you get the right size moving van for the number and type of possessions you relocate.
Damaged belongings during transit, because of an inappropriate truck, are an unnecessary waste. And multiple vehicle trips with a small van costs more fuel, compared to if you hire a proper one to fit your stuff.
So, the point is: find a moving vehicle to transport your possessions safely while making the least amount of trips possible to minimize your footprint on pollution.
Hire a Green Moving Company
If you’re about to book professionals for your move, make sure to hire a green moving company.
There are more and more moving companies that help reduce waste during a move. They provide easy access to low-waste packing supplies and boxes, moving vans that run on biodiesel, and many more options for a sustainable moving process.
Going with eco-oriented moving services also means supporting the company in its dedication to keep the planet safe.
Zero Waste Moving is Possible
As you can see from our guide, a greener move with minimal to zero waste requires nothing but a little bit of planning and commitment.
So, follow our tips to bring your moving footprint to zero and contribute to a cleaner, safer environment.