Question: I am getting ready to move and want to do everything as “greenly” as possible. Do you have any tips for this? Thanks! Gabrielle
Answer: The reduce, reuse, recycle triumverate — in that order –applies with moving too.
So first, reduce the amount of stuff you have to move. This’ll not only lighten your load and its related carbon footprint, but can also save you money (in moving and storage fees), stress, and possibly your back. Craigslist it, freecycle it, or sell it at an old fashioned yard sale — then donate what’s left before you think about packing things up. If you’ve accumulated so much junk that you can’t bear the thought of sorting through it all, you might consider getting the help of an eco-organizer.
Once you’ve shrunk the stuff you have to move, get a moving truck that’ll fit that stuff in one go, if possible, to reduce the number of trips — and the resulting carbon emissions — you’ll need to make. Doing this will likely save you time and money too.
One local company to consider for moving and storage services is NorthStar Moving Corporation, which recently announced that it’s converted vehicles to biodiesel fuel, uses vaults made of reused wood for storage, and offers discount offers to customers who use and return recycled boxes. I haven’t tried out their services myself though, and the green info’s not on their website yet, so call for full details before you commit.
Then reuse. For moving boxes, either find once-used cardboard boxes to reuse (again, a money-saving move) or rent RecoPacks from rentagreenbox.com, a company that’ll deliver and pick up reusable boxes made from recycled plastic that I briefly wrote about way back when.
And lastly, recycle. If you’re moving to an apartment that doesn’t yet have blue bins, call the city to order them now so you don’t have to worry about figuring out where your nearest recycling center is and hauling your recyclables there. Do what you can to make eco-living in your new home as easy and as pleasurable as possible!
Photo by ginger.wine
Update, 5/18/09: Radical uncluttering — How people are getting rid of (almost) all their stuff in search of adventure
Freecycle is a good resource for cardboard boxes and for getting rid of them once you’ve moved!
Comment by M — April 19, 2009 @ 8:03 pm
I looked into renting plastic bins but they are SO expensive… and what if you are slow to unpack, like I am? The clock starts ticking? Also, some stuff you just want to store away for later. I used http://www.usedcardboardboxes.com. They delivered the NEXT DAY and they don’t charge anything for shipping. I couldn’t even tell that the boxes had been used, and I still have them. highly recommended! No need to pay a lot. no need to search around online or behind stores…. and they deliver them to your door.
Comment by Bruce — April 20, 2009 @ 8:54 am
nice…i second the freecycle for cardboard boxes!! it’s how i got boxes for a move then how i got rid of them too!!
christina’s last blog post..yes, i’m bragging and i don’t care…
Comment by christina — April 20, 2009 @ 1:32 pm
I guess a good tip would be to put in a freecycle request for boxes while also putting in freecycle offers for stuff you don’t want to take with you :)
Comment by Siel — April 21, 2009 @ 3:59 pm
NorthStar Moving’s green info is actually on their recently revamped storage site. Check it out: http://www.northstarmobilestorage.com/red_is_green/red_is_green.html
Red on the Outside,Green on the Inside!
Comment by K — April 23, 2009 @ 9:25 am
and for the really hard-core, there’s the Bike Move! Watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq3oSyvXLiY
Joe Linton’s last blog post..Redevelopment along the Cornfield Yards in 1954
Comment by Joe Linton — April 26, 2009 @ 11:52 pm
NorthStar Moving accepts any 100% recycled moving boxes back from clients. The boxes are inspected for quality, sorted and re-stocked and the client gets back 25% of the original cost of the recycled moving boxes!
Comment by K — April 27, 2009 @ 8:33 am
Joe — Great video! That takes some serious people-coordinating though…. A bike-powered moving company you could hire would be great :)
Comment by Siel — April 27, 2009 @ 7:28 pm
Agreed that the bike move takes plenty of serious coordination… and that takes it out of the realm of being possible for most folks… but, in a way, that’s the point… getting your community together for your move.
Joe Linton’s last blog post..Stream Restoration Planned at Hazard Park
Comment by Joe Linton — April 29, 2009 @ 2:31 pm
Or getting your community together to create a self-sustaining green moving company! :P
Comment by Siel — April 29, 2009 @ 2:54 pm