Ways to recycle and reduce waste when moving
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There are a lot of things that go through your mind when moving. Making a checklist, packing, getting a lot of things done will definitely take up a bunch of your time. To save some time (and effort), many people decide to hire professional Washington DC movers to have a smooth relocation. Hiring a professional moving crew will definitely make it stress-free! However, you can always go the extra step and try to be more eco-friendly during your moving process. For instance, researching all the ways to recycle and reduce waste when moving is something we definitely recommend! Once you start looking into it, you realize how wasteful and harmful your relocation can be to the environment. Making even the smallest effort to go green can make a lot of difference in the end. Let’s get started!
Why should you recycle and reduce waste when moving?
Our landfills are growing day by day, and it will come a time where we won’t have a place to get rid of the trash we make. Being conscious of this and making an effort to reduce waste in your lifestyle is something we should all strive to do. When we help our planet breathe and grow as it is supposed to, we will have a better life in return. So, why not try to incorporate this during your relocation?
For instance, the first thing that comes to mind is to downsize and really think about the items you want to move. If you find something you haven’t used in years, donate it, or sell it. Only throw away items that truly can’t be used anymore and that have been broken beyond repair. This is one of the ways to reduce our landfills and make someone else happy by giving them what they need.
Be smart about the packing materials you use
Our second tip for organizing a green relocation is to be aware of the packing materials you’ll use. The most common ones we want to talk about are cardboard boxes. Many people think that cardboard boxes are great for packing during a moving process because they are light, easy to assemble, and can be recycled afterward. However, what they don’t know is that you cannot recycle moving boxes that got wet.
Moving in these winter months will certainly mean some of your boxes will get damaged. Therefore, they might not be suitable for recycling. What you can do is rent plastic bins! Renting bins and containers is a great way to ensure your items stay safe and dry during transport. On top of that, you don’t have to worry about recycling. They will get used again in another moving process!
Use the things you already have
Often, there is no need for packing peanuts or wrapping material. These will most likely end up in the trash and it’s not very eco-friendly. You can use what you already own to protect your fragile belongings in transport! For example, wrapping plates and mugs in towels and clothes is a very green and efficient way to pack. Small steps like these will really reduce waste when moving. Blankets and linen will also work great if you have a larger item that you want to wrap before loading it onto the moving truck. Organizing a green relocation isn’t that hard, now that you think about it!
If you don’t have the time to focus on these aspects of the move, then you can always get moving services Washington DC. However, you have to pay attention to which company will be able to meet your needs. While some really pay attention to stay green when relocating people, others don’t think it is as important. In case this is very important to you, do proper research and carefully pick the moving company you want to work with.
You can recycle and reduce waste when moving by reusing your moving materials
In the situation where you still want to use cardboard boxes, wrapping paper, and things like that, you can still be eco-friendly. Think about your friends or family – is anyone moving soon? If so, you can let them use the materials you no longer need! Alternatively, post on your local Facebook group or on Craigslist that you are giving away free packing materials. Even if the next person doesn’t decide to recycle them, it’s better that they are used twice than buying new ones.
On top of it all, try thrift shopping for furniture and household items you need in your new home. There will always be something you have to buy new, but if you really want to recycle and reduce waste when moving, try to buy used items. Visiting local yard sales, antique shops, and similar stores will be an exciting process and you may find really beautiful pieces that you won’t pay a lot for! Moreover, it will save you money in the long run, that you can invest in something else.
Use eco-friendly cleaning materials
We all know how important it is to clean your old home and your new one before you move in. But, you can put a twist to it as well. To make it green, be smart about the products you’re using to clean with. Vinegar and water will clean a lot of things, and you won’t have to use those really harsh materials! To clean glass surfaces, you can mix white vinegar, water, and rubbing alcohol and they will look like new when you’re done. Even reducing the number of unnecessary chemicals can make a difference on our planet!