If you care about the planet you will want to protect it. One of the biggest problems when moving house is the excess waste from dumping old possessions. Then there is the huge number of boxes, plastic wrapping, tape and the actual delivery. When you weigh it up moving is harmful to the environment. Moving home is a stressful event for anyone and attempting to do it a little greener will only add to the pressure. But, with a few simple steps you can do it as long as you start planning in advance.
- Make a list of the jobs to do
- Weigh up what you can reuse in your new home
Where to start when moving with green in mind
You need to start planning what you want to take. It is a good idea to take this time and have a good sort out and recycle as much as is possible. Reducing the amount you need to move is the better option. However, you could also take most of your furniture and appliances as it saves on buying new. If they are in good condition and work why not keep them. The fact that we live in such a disposable world isn’t doing the environment any good as it simply creates too much rubbish, then too many C02 gases are generated from this waste and then this harms the protective ozone layer that protects the earth.
- Salvage what you can to be reused helps
- Recycling what you don’t want helps others
Whatever you don’t want you could try to get some cash back by selling it either locally in papers, online or at car boots and garage sales. Donate to charities is a good solution and helps those less fortunate than yourself. For surplus waste materials recycle in local skips or hire a clearance company who will reuse almost all of any type of waste and also do it legally.
Deciding how to transport your load
Choose transport to suit the load size. You may just need a small removal van that you can load yourself and transfer to your new abode. Larger removal services offer a good choice of trucks but you will need to calculate your amount. If you are struggling to measure you load, some moving companies offer free quotes and this will give you a more precise figure to the load you are moving. You need a van size to suit you load that will do it in one trip. This saves fuel costs and obviously the harmful emissions that come from vehicles.
Packing the greener way
Use used cardboard boxes from supermarkets and furniture stores. Make sure they are not damaged or they may not support your belongings adequately. Use plastic buckets, laundry baskets and toy boxes to place your possessions. To protect your belongings use old cloths, tea towels, sheets and blankets. Newspaper is also a good option; ask for old stock from newsagents. You can recycle all of the paper when you have finished with it. Many removal companies offer reusable plastic boxes that come in various sizes and are used repeatedly.
They are rented for removals and are good if you have delicate ornaments and glass ware. It is good to know that they are hard wearing and longlasting.
The clean up
Then when you have everything packed there is the place to clean. Make sure you clean the place using green detergents. Some useful store cupboard ingredients include vinegar and baking soda which are good for removing tough stains and grease.
