Eco-Friendly Tips For a Green Move
There’s a growing trend towards eco-friendly practices in today’s society. As scientists continue to stress the importance of reducing carbon emissions, more and more people are taking steps to promote a green lifestyle. If you’re planning on moving in the near future, you should consider some of the following eco-friendly tips for a green move.
Make Fewer Trips
The more trips you are forced to make, the more gas you’ll use. Not only does this add carbon emissions to the atmosphere, but it’s also going to cost you money. Whether you hire a professional moving company to haul your stuff, or if you rent a moving truck and do it yourself, more trips means a higher cost.
To reduce the number of required trips, make sure the moving truck is packed from top to bottom. A good rule of thumb is to place the large, heavy items in the back for increased stability and space-saving purposes. You can then fill the center with boxes and place lightweight, loose items on top.
Use Newspaper Instead of Bubble Wrap
Stuffing boxes with bubble wrap is a great way to protect your belongings from damage; however, an eco-friendly alternative is newspaper. Instead of spending money on bubble wrap that you’ll probably only use once, find some old newspapers to place inside boxes filled with fragile items.
Get Rid of Unused Items Before You Move
Another green moving tip is to get rid of any unused or unwanted items before you move. If you have a wardrobe full of clothes that you never wear (something we’re all guilty of), contact a local charity organization in your area. Most charities will gladly take your used clothes, and they may even give you a tax-deductible receipt for your donation. You can sell larger items, including furniture, by hosting a yard sale.
Recycle Your Used Boxes
After moving all of your furniture and belongings into your new home, break down your leftover boxes and take them to a local recycling facility. Some people toss their boxes in the trash without thinking twice, but this only adds further unnecessary waste to local landfills.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), cardboard accounts for 31% of waste in U.S. landfills. Taking them to a recycling facility, however, will give the peace of mind knowing they will be reused instead of contributing to landfill waste.
Alternatively, you can save the boxes to use in garden compost later. Assuming they are made of all-natural ingredients, you can chop them up into tiny pieces to use in an organic compost bin. As the natural decomposition process occurs, it will release beneficial nutrients into the soil that helps your plants grow.
Do you have some other green moving tips to share? Please leave a comment below.
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