Green Moving: 10 Tips for an Eco-Friendly Move

Moving isn’t exactly known for being an environmentally-friendly process. Sure, moving boxes are recyclable, but along the way, most movers accumulate a lot of trash, waste a lot of materials, and do a lot of driving. And with the average American moving 11.7 times in their lifetime (and many people moving more than that), each of us makes a pretty big environmental impact over the course of our moves.

Fortunately, it is actually rather simple to reduce your carbon footprint by embracing green moving, especially when you plan ahead. Do the planet — and in most cases, your wallet — a favor by incorporating these eco-friendly tips into your next move.

1. Pack the containers you already have

   You’re likely always going to need some boxes for your move, but you can greatly cut down on the total amount by using containers you already have to pack up your items. These include:

   • Plastic bins
   • Suitcases
   • Dresser drawers
   • Gym bags and duffel bags
   • Reusable grocery totes

   If you have an item that can fit other things inside of it, fill it up before packing it. For example, line your small bathroom trash bin with a fresh garbage bag and use it to store items from under your sink. The more you can fit in containers you already have, the more you can avoid having to rely on purchased moving boxes.

2. Store boxes you collect throughout the year

   Online shopping isn’t the most environmentally conscious way to stock up on what you need, but it’s a pretty standard part of modern life so may as well have the boxes your items come in do double duty.

   If you know that you have an impending move coming up, or if you just tend to move pretty regularly, start to keep the boxes you receive when you order packages online so that you can use them later on. Break them down and store them in your garage or basement or even under your bed — anywhere they’re out of sight and mind until the time comes when you can use them again.

3. If you need more boxes, get them used

   To move green, only buy brand new moving boxes as a last resort and try to compile used boxes from other places first. Call up friends, family members, and local grocery and retail stores, and put out a general post on your social media pages to see if anyone has spare boxes you can pick up.

   If that doesn’t work, check out Craigslist and Freecycle to see if there are people giving away free moving boxes in your area, and visit a site like UsedCarboardBoxes.com which can set you up with boxes that were rejected by manufacturers for flaws. With enough outreach, you should be able to acquire exactly what you need. For more ideas, check out our guide to where to get free boxes.

   

4. Get creative with packing materials

   Unlike cardboard boxes, other packing materials — in particular the materials you use to wrap up your items for safe traveling – are not so easily recycled. While you can recycle those materials at special collection points, many people fail to do so, and instead end up tossing a lot of their packing materials in the trash.

   However, there’s a growing market for sustainable, compostable, and biodegradable packing supplies. This includes packaging materials made from seaweed, cornstarch, and even mushrooms.

   Before you start acquiring materials that are difficult to properly dispose of, start with what you already have. You can use towels, linens, comforters, and even clothes to safely wrap up items for packing. If you need additional materials, start with newspapers, which you can throw in your standard recycling bin. And if you do end up needing to use plastic packing materials, use a site like Recycle Finder to figure out exactly where you can drop them off once you’re done with them.

5. Sell what you don’t need

   Reduce your waste and pick up some extra cash by selling items that are in good condition. There are quite a few options for selling clothes for cash online, and there are also resources like Craigslist and the Facebook Marketplace for furniture, electronics, and anything else you’ve got lying around. You can even host a pre-move garage sale. Do this early so that you have time to arrange a donation of any items that don’t get sold.

6. Donate what you can’t sell

   A move presents a perfect opportunity for getting rid of the things you no longer use and sending them on to a better purpose. When you’re getting organized for your move, sort the items you’re ready to get rid of into “donate,” “recycle,” and “toss” piles. Your toss pile should be as small as possible, and should only include items that you really, truly can’t do anything else with.

   You can donate unwanted items in good condition to a variety of charities, including Goodwill, Veterans for America, and local organizations like schools, libraries, and animal shelters. (Here is a list of eight charities that offer free donation pick-up.) When it comes to your recycle pile, be sure you’re getting rid of things the right way. Learn where to recycle electronics near you by following EPA’s recommendations, and check out TerraCycle for tips on recycling pretty much everything else. There are various ways to donate food as well.

7. Don’t pack up your entire kitchen right away

   The kitchen is one of the hardest rooms to pack, and it makes sense that many movers tackle it first. But once all of your dishes and flatware are stored away, you’re going to be forced to rely on plastic plates, cups, and utensils to get by. As a better alternative, leave out just enough kitchen items to get you through the moving process so that you don’t get stuck using non-sustainable materials for your meals.

8. Hire a green moving company

   One of the best ways to make a smaller environmental impact with your move is to hire a moving company committed to eco-friendly practices. A green moving company will use trucks that run on biodiesel fuel instead of traditional gas and can also help set you up with reusable moving boxes so that you don’t have to worry about going the cardboard box route. Search reputable movers through our moving company directory and choose a mover that has a proven dedication to keeping the earth clean.

9. Do fewer back-and-forth trips

   Try to make the fewest amount of trips possible with your move. Skip the small trips to and from your new place and focus on getting all of your items shipped by your movers on moving day. If you do plan to do some of the moving yourself, pack as much as possible into your car or van instead of doing it little by little. The fewer trips you can make during your move, the better.

10. Recycle your moving supplies

    Besides curbside recycling, consider offering your no longer needed moving supplies to someone else moving soon. Chances are someone else could get good use out of your moving supplies, so post on Facebook or OfferUp to get them off your hands responsibly.

The bottom line

A green move (or even a zero-waste move) is possible. There are always things that you can do to reduce your negative impact on the environment during a relocation, such as seeking out alternate moving materials.

Ready to move?

Once you’ve decided to move, start looking for movers using Moversnearyou’s extensive network of reputable and reliable moving companies. All movers in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands. Best of luck and happy moving!