Moving to a new office or home can be bad for the environment in many ways. If you’re not mindful, you can needlessly contribute to landfill waste. Fortunately, there are some preparations you can make before calling a moving company to ensure an eco-friendly move.

How to Make Your Move Eco-Friendly

1. Dispose of Hazardous Materials Properly

Your home may contain some items that a moving company isn’t legally allowed to transport due to their flammability. These include everyday items like motor oil, gasoline, and paint thinners.

If you decide to dispose of them, don’t throw them out haphazardly. You should dispose of them according to the guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency. There are also specific directions on how to handle unwanted batteries, lamps, and pesticides.

2. Opt for Eco-Friendly Packaging

While cardboard boxes are recyclable, it still harms the environment. If you order clothes or furniture online, store the cardboard delivery boxes away for future use. If possible, ask your friends, family, and neighbors if they have any extra boxes they can spare you. Sometimes even local businesses will give you their extra cardboard boxes from weekly shipments.

Alternatively, you can also opt for plastic containers and bubble wrap made from recycled plastic to combat the growing problem of plastic pollution in the oceans. 

3. Get Rid of Excess Belongings

The vehicle you’ll use to transport your possessions emits greenhouse gases into the environment when it’s driven. The more trips you need to make, the more gases will be emitted.

To mitigate emissions, try to sell, donate, or gift any of your possessions that you don’t need. This will ensure that you have a smaller load that would require fewer trips to move. Donating is a sustainable, eco-friendly way of getting rid of your clothes and furniture.

If you’re looking for a reliable and experienced moving company, contact Firefighters on the Move in Omaha, NE. For over a decade, this company has provided both commercial and residential clients a wide array of moving services, from packing and loading to providing packaging supplies like boxes, tape, and bubble wrap. To request a free estimate, call (402) 850-0145 or visit them online.