The home moving process can be harmful to the environment. And unfortunately, many of us are simply unaware of this fact. Thus, every year millions of us move without knowing that the tons of trash that we create can end up damaging our fragile eco-system. Luckily, even the smallest of efforts can ease the burden off of our already stressed environment. Read these five eco-friendly moving tips to find the best ways to move to a new home in a much greener manner.
- Use containers you already have around the house: Chances are that if you look carefully around your home before you move you will find plenty of containers in which you can place your belongings. Such items include plastic bins, suitcases, dresser drawers, gym and duffel bags and reusable grocery totes. Just remember to insulate your belongings as you would if they were being packed into regular moving boxes. This will not only help you avoid having relying on moving boxes, it will also help you to save money and effort since you will not have to go all over town looking for as many boxes.
- Use environmentally friendly packing materials: Bubble wrap and packing peanuts make excellent packing materials but they are not at all environmentally friendly. Plastic, for example, takes many centuries to degrade. Similarly, Styrofoam takes at least a million years to decompose! Instead of using these materials, use newspaper, egg cartons, blankets and towels to protect fragile items. Newspaper is very good at protecting glassware and other fragile items and leaves a much smaller footprint on the environment. (Newspaper only takes about 6 years to decompose completely.)
- Donate what you don’t need: Ease the burden on landfills and feel better in the process by donating gently used items to local or national charities. When you’re getting organized for your move, sort your excess items into groups labeled “donate,” “recycle,” and “toss”. You will be helping someone who needs these items and you will also be able to get a tax write off at the same time.
- Pack efficiently: The fewer trips you will have to make during the moving process the less fuel you will use. This will reduce carbon emissions and help the environment. Pack your items snugly but leave some room for your items to breath.
- Dispose of hazardous materials in an eco-friendly manner: Federal law prohibits us from transporting certain hazardous materials in our trucks. Nevertheless, we realize that you may have dangerous materials that must be handled in some manner. We suggest that you get rid of items such as ammonia, gasoline, kerosene, motor oil, antifreeze, engine oil, dyes, pesticides, fertilizers, weed killers in the recommended way or that you arrange to transport these items safely.
Finally, remember that helping the environment does not just end when you are moving into a new home. You can also do much after you reach your destination to continue your responsibility to aid Mother Nature by living an eco-friendly lifestyle. Our Thousand Oaks moving and storage company does everything it can to help as well. For full service moving in Los Angeles contact us. We will give you an accurate quote.