How to Reduce Waste & Recycle During a Move

Moving can cause a ton of waste. From the books to the bubble wrap, there are plenty of things you will likely throw away during a move.

You don't have to waste when moving. There are several ways to reduce waste and recycle during a move. Here are some of the best ways to reduce waste and recycle when you're moving.

Don't Use Cardboard Boxes

While you can certainly recycle cardboard boxes, you don't have to use them at all. You can use reusable moving boxes to ensure you don't waste boxes after you've moved.

Did you know, if a cardboard box gets wet, it cannot be recycled? Often, moving boxes cannot be recycled for one reason or another and they end up as waste. However, when you rent reusable moving boxes, they don't have to be recycled because they end up being reused.

Use Things You Have for Packing Supplies

If you have old newspapers, old towels, t-shirts, and other soft things, use it for packing. You don't have to buy new packing supplies for your move. Even towels you plan to use when you arrive, you can use for packing fragile things. You can also use sheets, blankets, and anything else soft that you already own.

The soft things you don't plan to keep can be donated. The best way to reduce waste during a move is to not create new waste. By using things you already own as packing materials, you don't have to buy as much bubble wrap and you won't have to waste as much.

Eliminate What You Don't Need or Want

Before you start packing, take the time to go through everything you own and get rid of what you don't want. It can be donated or even thrown away, if necessary. Donate anything that can be reused by someone else from clothing to old appliances.

By going through everything you own, you'll reduce what you need to move, which will help you to create less waste. You can even have a yard sale if you want to make a bit of extra cash from your unwanted things.

Recycle Anything That's Recyclable

It doesn't have to be a cardboard box to be recycled. Check your local recycling program and see what they will take. Some places will take old packing paper and even bubble wrap. Even if it cannot be recycled through your municipality, you can reuse some things.

Maybe you have leftover bubble wrap or packing supplies. It may come in handy around the holidays if you need to ship any gifts to family members. If possible, store your packing supplies and use them as your main things to keep from having to buy new and waste the old.

There are several good ways to reduce waste and recycle when you're moving. Using plastic moving boxes is a good start and using your soft goods as packing materials can help, too. Make sure you use the tips above and come up with your own creative ways to reduce waste and recycle when moving.

Top Packing Tips for Moving in a Hurry

Sometimes, you have to move in a hurry. Maybe you don't have a choice and a last minute move is necessary. When this is the case, you need the right supplies and you need them in a hurry.

Reusable moving boxes should be rented and the right packing supplies will help, too. However, you still have to pack and move in a hurry. Here are some of the top tips you can use when moving in a hurry.

Downsize Fast

The less you need to pack, the faster you can move. If possible, downsize your things as quickly as you can. Donate or sell anything you don't need immediately. Take a day and get things listed on sites, such as eBay or Craigslist. If it's not something you want to sell, just donate it to the nearest thrift store.

Downsizes will give you fewer things to pack and make the work easier. You can even throw away things not worth donating or selling. Getting rid of anything you don't need or want will make your last minute move much easier.

Start Packing

When you know a move is coming months ahead of time, you can create a good plan and move through the process step-by-step. However, when you need to move in a hurry, you need to think less and pack more. The sooner you get started, the sooner you will be packed and ready for the moving company to pick up your things.

Usually, you want to pack in a way to make unpacking easier, but when you need to move fast, forget about it. Simply pack quickly and worry about sorting things out later. You will likely have more time to deal with unpacking, so worry about sorting things by room later on.

Use What You Already Have

Getting the right supplies can delay the process when you have to move fast. Once your Chicago GreenBoxes arrive, start packing. Use the things you already have, such as clothing and towels to help protect your breakable items.

Ask for Help

Moving in a hurry should be an "all hands on deck" type of situation. You need to pack, but you can ask for help from family and friends. Let them know you're in a hurry and you could really use the help. Even one extra person can make packing easier and faster.

Call a Moving Company ASAP

Moving companies often book up in advance, but may leave some room for a last-minute move. They could also have a cancellation or something else could happen freeing them up to help. As soon as you know you will be moving, call a local moving company to get on their books.

If they can help you with the move, you may also want to ask if they can help with the packing. If so, consider paying them to help as it can be a huge job to do on your own, in a hurry.

Moving is stressful. When you have to move in a hurry, it becomes even more stressful. Make sure you get started as soon as possible and use the tips above to ensure you get packed and moved as fast as possible.

4 Tips to Effectively Pack Your Moving Boxes

Getting your green moving boxes is just the start. Once you have the right boxes for your residential move, you have to effectively pack your moving boxes. The right packing strategy will go a long way in protecting your items.

If you're planning to move, you need to know how to pack your boxes. Here are five of the best tips to ensure you pack your moving boxes properly.

Pack Room-By-Room

An effective method of packing your moving boxes is to do it room-by-room. With this packing method, it's easy to get unpacked when you arrive at your new home.

Start with the bedrooms and move through the house one room at a time. Make sure everything is fully labeled and use a different color marker for each room. Label the boxes with the room and the contents of the box to make sure they end up in the right place when you arrive at your new home.

If you use the room-by-room packing method, you'll be glad you did when you arrive at your new home. It's a great way to ensure your moving boxes are properly packed for a successful move.

Don't Use Large Boxes for Heavy Items

Larger moving boxes can be tempting to use for all kinds of items. However, when you put heavy items in these boxes, you make an awkward box to carry even more awkward. The last thing you need is an injury when moving. Pack lighter things, such as pillows and baskets into larger moving boxes or trash bags and try to put heavier things into your green moving boxes as they are more sturdy.

It's best to consider grouping items by size and weight as you go through each room, too. The other danger of packing larger moving boxes with heavier items is the integrity of the box. If the box breaks, you could be in for all kinds of issues. Imagine a kitchen box filled with dishes breaking under the weight. It could be a huge mess. You won't have to worry about this with our reusable moving boxes!

A good rule of thumb for the weight of your boxes is to keep them under 30 pounds each.

Pack Lighter Items on the Top

Putting heavier items on the bottom of the box is a good start. Then, you want to pack your lighter items on the top of those heavier items. This type of packing will allow your lighter items to survive the move without being crushed.

Wrap Everything That's Fragile

If it could break, wrap it. Use bubble wrap or packing paper to ensure anything fragile is protected from damage. You can even cushion the most fragile items with towels and other soft items you need to pack for the move.

Packing your boxes is important. Use these packing tips to ensure you make moving easier.