Moving Without the Waste
Depending on how you look at it, moving can be exciting…or anxiety-provoking. There is a lot to purge, pack, move, unpack, and purge again, and it seems impossible to avoid some waste during the process. As they say though, when it comes to planning your move, an ounce of prevention is worth a 50-pound box of random items you should have donated before the movers arrived. If you are or will be in the process of moving and need a step-by-step guide on sustainably moving for less, read on!
1. Plan to Purge
If you have to pare down your items for a downsize (or if thinking about packing suddenly inspires a bout of minimalism), planning ahead can save you waste, time, and even money. Fewer boxes means less cost in materials and moving fees, so make editing your possessions first on your checklist. Eat through your backstock a bit. Donate old clothes. Post items on your local Buy Nothing group on social media and clear out the old to make room for new possibilities and make the burden of moving literally lighter.
2. Thinking Outside the Box
When it comes to packing up your remaining stuff, you can always use containers you already own such as dresser drawers, reusable storage bins, and tote bags, but inevitably, you’ll need boxes (SO. MANY. BOXES.). No need to buy though! Check with new neighbors or friends who just moved in, and offer to take their empty boxes off their hands as they unpack. You can also gather boxes by joining a local Buy Nothing group and writing up an ISO (in search of) post. Finally, check with local businesses, especially busy offices and grocery stores, who often have a steady flow of incoming stock in boxes (copy paper boxes with lids and handles are the best).
3. Skip the Styrofoam
Traditional packing peanuts and foam bricks are tricky to recycle, so avoid buying new and reuse these items if you come across them to keep them out of the environment as long as possible. If purchasing new packing material, choose crumpled up or corrugated paper packing materials rather than foam or plastic. Brown kraft paper is biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable and can be just as protective as other methods.
4. Paper or Plastic?
As you prepare to finally seal all those boxes, skip the plastic packing tape! Paper tape is not only stronger and more tamper-proof, but it is fully recyclable with the boxes. Plastic tape has to be filtered out at the recycling plant and is known to gum up the works over time, since it leaves a residue. Not to mention, it’s also easier to “pop” paper tape open to unpack your items, rather than struggling with all the peeling or risking your appendages with a sticky box cutter.
At some point, movers may have their own policies that demand the use of plastic, or you may need to run out and buy a few more boxes and rolls of whatever tape is available, but if you start early, donate old stuff, and use sustainable materials, it will drastically reduce your waste. Then as you unpack, you can pay it forward by sharing your boxes and tips with someone else!