Today most of us are more and more aware of the responsibility of living a greener life. With most local councils issuing special bins to separate waste it is becoming a way of life to dispose of rubbish in a more eco friendly manner. Whatever we do in life creates waste and moving house is one of those events that can be extremely harmful on the planet. If you are moving home this is one of those times when we find ourselves with piles of waste to get rid of along with endless amounts of boxes and packing materials. Here we look at some easy ways to make it a more environmentally friendly.
- Reduce packing materials
- Recycling unwanted items in the correct manner
- Using transport suitable to your load
Preparing a greener house removal
There are lots of ways to make moving house a little greener; it doesn’t have to be a time to feel guilty. In fact you could look at it as a chance to recue your belongings and rather than throw away find other uses for them. You can often feel good about having a sort out, and if you find another use for the unwanted clutter you can rest assured you are helping either a cause or someone else. General waste such as glass, paper, metal, card and plastic can be separated into skips that most towns and cities have placed. If you have a huge amount then it might be worth hiring a clearance company.
These companies will recycle almost anything. Plus they will organise permits for hazardous waste, pesticides, car batteries, electrical appliances and oils etc. You do have to be aware that there is a special place for all waste.
Donate or sell
With the better things you could donate to local church fetes, school jumble sales, charities or give to people you know. If you want to gain some cash back you could sell using online websites such as eBay. Or hold a garage sale, or attend nearby car boot sales.
- Your rubbish can help another person
- Feel good about yourself in helping others
Choosing the right removal service
Some moving companies work to eco friendly guidelines now and supply reusable plastic boxes to pack up your possessions. They are supplied for a rent and are an excellent solution for movers. You get a strong and durable box that will keep your things protected during the removal. The even better thing is that you return them to the company for another customer to get use from them. This saves dramatically on waste materials from normal cardboard boxes.
Other ways to pack up and move your home contents the green way
If you are doing the move yourself you could get hold of second hand moving boxes from shops and furniture stores. This means you are using them again. Just make sure they are in a reasonable state. When packing delicate possessions you could also use old newspapers which can easily be recycled when you have finished with it. Or use sheets, towels and old cloths, to wrap and protect glasses and ornaments. This means that you reuse these materials after a good wash, and no waste to throw away.
Transport
Finally your transportation should be the right size for the load. You don’t want to have to keep doing return trips, as this is creating more C02 emissions with each journey. Wasted space on a truck waste fuel too. Try to calculate the load accurately and this will help towards a greener transfer.
