By Sophia Perry (AZ Moving Pros)
It seems like going a step further and choosing a more eco-friendly option for your relocation is troublesome and tiring. Moving house often involves a lot of stress, and people are tired of adding other 'responsibilities' to that matter. However, you should know that if you choose to have an eco-friendly move, you can make this process easier, and more importantly – cheaper. At the same time, you will protect the environment and create less mess and damage to it. Having a green move has never been easier, so we’ve come up with a set of tips to help you relocate in an environmentally-friendly way.
Start with making a plan
Briefly taking a look at these green moving tips will not ensure you go green all the way. Like with any other move, start with making a solid plan. This should involve getting enough eco-friendly packing supplies, finding a reliable green moving company, etc. Making a list will help you stay organized and reduce the moving stress to the minimum.
Go minimal
The calculations are pretty simple. The fewer moving boxes you have, the less you're going to pay for the move and do less damage to the environment. Before you do anything else, declutter your home thoroughly. Get rid of all the items you've been keeping for too long for nothing; unused, damaged, outgrown, and outdated pieces as well. You'll see how you can clear the path to a fast and straightforward packing process, needing fewer moving boxes than usual. Reducing the size of your household will require a smaller vehicle or fewer trips to the new home, which means less carbon dioxide released into the air. This is a helpful tip for your budget, too. You can significantly reduce the costs of your move by simply getting rid of the items you no longer need.
Reduce the number of moving boxes for an eco-friendly move.
Remember: saying goodbye to the unused items is not about dumping them in the garbage. For an eco-friendly move, try to find another purpose for these items or donate or sell them over the internet. Donations are a great way to recycle the things you no longer need, but that are still in good condition. So think carefully about the items you don't want in your new home – maybe there's someone who can use them.
Green storage options
If you decide to get a storage unit to keep some of the rarely used items, don’t forget that this step is also part of your environmentally conscious move. There are sustainable ways to store your items without harming the environment. Choose a green option for your storage and ensure your items are safe until the next time you need them.
Use eco-friendly packing supplies
Things you use to pack your household items can be pretty harmful to the environment. That’s why you should go for greener options that are also sturdy enough to protect your items during transport. Here are some things you can try:
· Renting plastic packing containers – renting plastic containers is a great solution to save yourself from the mess of unpacking leftovers.
· Cardboard boxes – cardboard is pretty harmless, but the most remarkable thing about it is that you can use it multiple times. Try finding used moving boxes from friends or family who recently moved or at a local liquor store to save money. However, be sure that the used boxes you take are in good condition, so you don't put your items at risk.
· Household items – things you already have around the house can serve as excellent containers for your move. Backpacks, suitcases, tote bags, trash cans, laundry baskets, and even garbage bags san be pretty helpful for items that are not too delicate.
· Other green packing supplies – to wrap or protect your items, you can use old towels and sheets and pick green options when packing peanuts.
Pack your items carefully while protecting the environment.
Watch out what you’re packing
When sorting out your items before packing them into boxes, check if some of them are not that eco-friendly and even hazardous. Strong chemicals, flammable and explosive items shouldn’t be in your moving boxes. These include dyes, ammonia, gasoline, paint, cleaning supplies, etc. Moving companies also reject these items, but even if you're moving on your own, you should get rid of them.
Hire an eco-friendly moving team
People responsible for your move should be reliable and affordable, but also the ones who take care of the environment while providing moving services. Experts from moverstoronto.com suggest you explore a couple of options when hiring movers. This way, you can be sure about the average prices, quality of services, and levels of eco-awareness. They recommend opting for a moving team that uses modern vehicles that use bio-diesel and reduce the harmful impact, plan the shortest route from your old to your new address, and take care of the leftover packing supplies after you're done with them. So, don't be afraid to ask questions about this matter. Some companies will tell you anything to make you sign the contract. Be sure you get all the answers about the eco-friendliness of their business before you decide to hire them.
Together, we can make our planet a better place – everyone needs to take a step toward a more eco-friendly lifestyle. alt.tag: a person holding a green branch
Change your habits
An eco-friendly move should be your first step to a green and healthy lifestyle. After moving into your new home, try changing your habits to continue making a clean and safe world. These practices could include several different aspects such as minimizing the mess and regular recycling, using eco-friendly products for maintaining your home, installing energy-efficient lights and gadgets, etc. However, try implementing them one by one and slowly changing your home into a healthy environment.
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