Moving to your new home can be a fun and exciting yet sometimes overwhelming thing to do. It is important to understand that your move can be damaging to the environment if you don’t take the proper preventative measures. Learning a sustainable approach to your relocation can help you to have an efficient and environmentally friendly move.
1. Donate your items instead of throwing them away.
When you are starting your move, it is essential to separate the items that you don’t want to take with you. While you may feel like it’s easier to throw these items away, your move could result in a significant addition to the local landfill. You need to donate your items to thrift shops or charities instead of sending them to the dump.
2. Use sustainable packing materials.
There are many sustainable packing materials available to movers today. It is crucial to choose boxes and other packing materials that are recyclables. If you don’t know where to find sustainable packing materials, contact a local moving company. They will most likely be willing to sell you some of their more eco-friendly packing materials.
3. Find eco-friendly transportation.
When working with a moving company, you need to find an environmentally friendly set of professional movers. Many moving companies now use hybrid or even electric trucks to move their clients. Ask the moving company you are planning on hiring if they have a sustainable way of transporting your items. If you are planning on moving yourself, you need to find the most direct route to cut down on the cost of gas. Also, make sure you correctly inflated your tires before your move. It can significantly impact your fuel-efficiency.
4. Recycle as much as you can.
It is very reasonable to throw away quite a few things that you don’t need during a move. However, there are going to be many items that you can recycle instead of tossing in the trash. Most electronics stores will have recycling stations for old batteries and electronics. There are also many recycling bins in major cities where you can take most of your other recyclables.
5. Clean your home with eco-friendly supplies.
Once it is finally time to clean your home, there are many natural cleaning supplies that you can use instead of ones that are harmful to the environment. You can find these green cleaners in most hardware stores.
Making your move more sustainable can be fun if you take the right approach to it. If you are planning on working with a professional moving company, make sure that you talk to them about your desire to have a sustainable move. Most modern-day moving companies will have viable options for you, even if it costs just a bit more.