Moving is a dirty job, regardless of how most the movies show it to be glamorous. All that packing, sorting out stuff, and taking down items can create quite a mess.
This means extra work for you after you pack everything to be transported to a new place. But don’t worry, we got you covered with this list of ways to reduce waste during moving and keep the stress low.
#1. Keep it organized from the start
Everyone talks about decluttering as a miracle solution for lots of things. That’s because it is! Clutter is not your roommate, but an obstacle to being happier and more comfortable in your home. When moving, decluttering should be the first thing on your list to take care of.
It will help you decide what to move to a new home and what to throw away. Those things in mint condition could be donated to charity or sold to finance getting new furniture. Nonetheless, decluttering will reduce the waste you kept all these years because you were sorry to get rid of it and help with a new start.
#2. Let others take the trash out
Whatever may be the reason for moving, you should leave the old home in good shape. If you are selling the place, this also means lots of rubbish, like demolished materials. This is not a type of waste you can throw in the trashcan but requires environmentally safe disposal.
Most of those items can be recycled, reused, or repurposed. Find professionals who will know what to do with the waste and how to properly take care of it in an environmentally friendly way. Waste that ends up in landfills will contribute to environmental pollution and the greenhouse effect.
#3. Don’t move your stuff by yourself
Moving to a new home is rarely going to take your car and a few bags. In the USA you can hire professional movers or rent a U-Haul where you will pack and drive your things to a new place. In Australia, hiring Sydney removalists will let you rest while the professional team does all the packing, carrying, and loading to the transport truck.
The point is, that instead of ending up with sore muscles, back pain, and a few broken pieces of furniture, let an expert do it all the right way. They will pick and clean after themselves, so all you will have to do is maybe wipe a few corners and say goodbye to your old home.
#4. Be an eco-friendly packer
Instead of shopping for materials right away, see what you have at home. Old newspapers are excellent for packing breakables or filling in space between items so they don’t come into contact and break. Clothes, towels, blankets, and any other soft things can be as good as newspapers or even better since they can cushion the blows.
This will save you money on plastic and bubble wraps, boxes, and other packing materials you may not need at all. Also, the soft things you used can be washed and you can use them as usual, or you can donate them. And newspapers can go straight to the recycler!
#5. Avoid using cardboard boxes
Yes, cardboard is recyclable and biodegradable! But there’s a catch — it’s recyclable only if it doesn’t get wet or has glue traces, for example. On the other hand, reusable boxes are made from recycled plastic, wood, or steel and are much sturdier for heavyweight and weather. After all, you can use them for more than moving and don’t have to throw them away afterward, but keep them for storage.
Reusable packaging is made respecting the environmental rule to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste. Another wonderful thing is that you don’t have to buy it, but rent it and return it when you finished moving.
In the end
Moving is not stress-free. There is always something that will have you worried or losing your nerves about. However, you can counterstrike that stress by being environmentally responsible and using sustainable methods to reduce waste during moving. Remember that you have options. From hiring professionals to handle the whole process to start with decluttering, you can do a lot to minimize the waste that’s left behind.
