Tutorial for an eco-friendly NY move

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So, you have decided to move, but are worried about the potential ecological footprint the whole process will make.  There are some ways to reduce the amount of waste created by the whole moving endeavor. This article will deal with just that. So, before you check out some moving companies Long Island, you better read this article and learn everything you need for an eco-friendly NY move! Without any further ado, let’s dive in!

Eco-friendly NY move, is it possible?

The answer to this is “yes”! However, there are some things you need to know. Read on and find out everything about your eco-friendly New York City move!

Use boxes and containers you already have

A great way to reduce the number of boxes you need to buy and therefore reduce the number of boxes that need to be recycled is to use the ones you already have. If you still need to get new boxes, by using the ones already in your possession, you will greatly reduce the amount you need to buy. Stuff that can be used instead of boxes are plastic bins, gym and duffel bags, grocery totes, suitcases, and even dresser drawers.

You can, for example, use the recycle bin from your kitchen to put in some cleaning supplies. Just do not forget to place a garbage bag inside in order to avoid any spillage or other accidents. This is a very easy and efficient thing you can do with your belongings. When you pair that up with being eco-friendly, it is a win-win situation! Do the same thing with your gym bags instead of just folding them and putting them inside a moving box. The possibilities are endless! You just have to think outside the box!

Buy used boxes

If there is an absolute need to buy new boxes, you can skip looking for new boxes, and get used ones! One of the first things you can do if you are on a budget is to ask your family and friends if they have any spare boxes. If the reply is positive, that will help you immensely. If not, then you can ask around your neighborhood. But, if that is to no avail as well, then you are going to have to buy boxes. However, you can get used boxes online. You can try eBay or some dedicated box-selling websites such as UsedCardboardBoxes. This website deals with boxes that were rejected by manufacturers because they had flaws. But worry not, for these flaws may not be in structure, but in coloring, logo, or something else. Make sure to state why you need the boxes and they will be happy to accommodate you.

Hire an eco-friendly moving company

This is a big one. If a moving company wants to do an eco-friendly move, that is certainly a trait of exceptional movers. They know how to do it and will probably give you guidelines that you need to follow in order to have an eco-friendly NY move! Give it a shot!

Get storage

If you have a lot of things that you do not know if they are worthy of moving, get a storage unit. There are probably many storage units Manhattan near your home. The proximity of your home to the storage facility is important because you will take less time and less fuel to get all the things to the unit. We are thinking in eco-friendly terms after all. In addition, the overall weight of your belongings during the move will be less. This is eco-friendly because the truck will use less fuel to take a smaller load to its destination. Less weight equals less carbon emissions. If this is not the basis of an eco-friendly NY move, then we do not know what is!

Get rid of extra stuff

While we are talking about reducing the weight of your belongings, a great way to do so is to get rid of extra stuff. There are a couple of ways of doing so and we will talk about them now.

• Having a garage sale:

This is probably the best way to shed weight when moving. We think so because you will get rid of extra stuff, therefore making the move more eco-friendly, and also earn some money while doing so. It is a win-win situation! So, go ahead and create a list of all the things you want to sell. Do not forget that you have to be ruthless. Selling something useless that only holds sentimental value to you may greatly reduce the weight of your move and therefore its carbon footprint. It is also one of the ways to make moving fun!

However, having a garage sale can be harder than you may think. The first thing you should do after making a list is advertising the sale. A great way to do so is by printing flyers and posters. While printing is not so eco-friendly, it is nothing compared to the amount of carbon emissions you will avoid when you are moving less stuff. “Hire” your kids to hand out flyers around the neighborhood, and put up posters on notice boards. In addition, do not be afraid to barter. You may want to sell something at a higher price because it holds sentimental value to you. However, the customers will not see that aspect of the item and request a lower price. Selling something for a lower price will go to great length when it comes to reducing the weight and having an eco-friendly move!

• Donate the items

If you do not manage to sell everything you wanted on your garage sale, you can always donate the items. Call up your friends to help you with the move, and bribe them with some of your belongings. You can also give out some items you do not need to your family. If you are feeling like doing a good deed, go ahead and donate to charity. Doing a good deed, and having an eco-friendly NY move. What more can you want?!