Professional moving companies are getting on the green moving van as well. America’s oldest moving company Mayflower started a Your Best Move Podcast Series with plenty of great tips.
Lessen your load
Now is the time to clean house. But don’t just walk those unwanted items to the curb. Have a yard sale or donate to the Salvation Army or Goodwill. Lighten your moving load by donating books to the local library. Sign up at the Freecycle Network to give your stuff away for free. This community grassroots, nonprofit organization is all about keeping stuff out of the landfill. Your garbage is another person's treasure.
Prevent e-waste
Tossing out cell phones, TVs, DVD players, computers and other electronic goods just contributes to the growing problem of e-waste. Instead find out how to recycle those unwanted electronic goods. Learn more about e-waste in our article Stop e-waste by recycling.
Hire a professional
We are under the mistaken assumption that do-it-yourself moves are cheaper than hiring the pros. But that’s not always the case. Getting the move done all at once can save you money while reducing your carbon footprint. Check out the self move calculator provided by the American Moving and Storage Association that will tally up the exact costs of your self-move.
Check credentials
Who doesn’t have a nightmare story about some shady moving company holding belongings ransom for more money? Do some homework before signing on the dotted. Choose a company with a good reputation. Mayflower, Atlas and Premiere Lines are some of the older, more established companies. Protect your move has a database evaluating the various fleets that includes outstanding complaints.
Also look over the Consumer Checklist for Choosing a Moving Company complied by the Office of Consumer Affairs to educate on how to spot the shysters.
The great box hunt
Starting hoarding bubble wrap, padded envelopes and boxes. Ask your local supermarket, liquor store or shopping mall for boxes.
You can also buy recycled boxes from UsedCardboardBoxes (UCB). The company rescues misprinted boxes, overruns or surplus boxes destined for the landfill and resells them at a low-cost. They have free shipping to locations throughout the USA as well as Montreal and Toronto.
Earth Friendly Moving rents RecoPack containers made from recycled plastic for a buck a week each in a variety of sizes. They also have enviro-friendly packing and moving supplies - all delivered by their veggie-powered truck. There’s even have a specially designed pallet made from 500 recycled baby diapers.
Eco-cushioning
Recyclable packing materials will green your move in a big way. Avoid those non-recyclable, toxic foam peanuts and don’t buy any new bubble wrap. Some green suggestions for eco-padding include:
Dispose of all those corrosive, toxic, or flammable cleaners and other products by checking with your municipality for the hazardous disposal days. Clean out your pantry and freezer. Who needs to move cans? Donate them to your local food bank? Have a going away dinner and give your perishable away to neighbours.
After the Move
Find out the recycling days at your new home so you can start off on a green foot in your new neighbourhood. And remember to keep breathing!
Anne Colvey is a regular contributor to Green Living Online. She hopes never to move again in this lifetime.
