Green Solutions For Reusing & Disposing Of Moving Supplies

Moving from one home to another involves a good deal of preparation. Many people take advantage of this time to take inventory of their belongings and de-clutter, donating or throwing away items that have outlasted their use. Everything that’s left then must be packaged up safely for transport.

As tempting as it may be to toss items into boxes, you’ll want to take precautions to ensure that your belongings arrive from Point A to Point B in one piece. Many people hire professional moving companies like Allegiance Van Lines, LLC for this time-consuming task. But whether it’s you or a moving company packing up your stuff, one thing is certain: there will be many packing materials involved. This most commonly involves cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, tissue paper, and more.

Once you’ve settled into your new home, there will be a mountain of packing materials left over from unpacking. Some people may throw this all away without a second thought. However, with this much waste, you may want to look into “greener,” more earth-friendly disposal options. There are quite a few ways to dispose of your moving supplies in ways that reduce waste and your overall environmental impact.

Read on for suggestions on what to do with your moving supplies once you no longer need them.

Declutter Before You Move

First things first, determine which items are worth moving. There is no better time to take inventory of your belongings than when you have to pack them all up. Often, people have no idea how much stuff they’ve accumulated until every closet and drawer needs to be emptied. You may come across some valuables you thought were lost and want to keep; you may also find things you kept, thinking they might get used, but never did.

Items in the latter category can be donated, re-gifted, or sold to require fewer moving supplies. There are many ways to ethically dispose of items you no longer want in your new home.

Ways To Recycle Your Moving Supplies

After the stress of a move, and then the tedious process of unpacking, you may want to simply toss your packing material and be done with it. But recycling is relatively simple. Here are a few ideas to get started:

Determine What Can Be Recycled

First things first: you’ll want to separate the recyclable materials from the non-recyclable ones. Generally, cardboard boxes are accepted at most recycling centers, provided they are broken down and all the tape has been removed. Packing paper and biodegradable packing peanuts are also accepted – you can ask your movers which materials are recyclable and which are not. Any packing peanuts made from styrofoam, bubble wrap, and plastic wraps are not able to be recycled.

If you’re unsure which materials are recyclable, contact your local recycling center to find out.

Gift Materials That Can’t Be Recycled

There is one way to “recycle” moving supplies that aren’t accepted at recycling centers: gift it! On community platforms like Next Door or Facebook, packing materials are commonly requested. Join a local Buy Nothing group, where people regularly give away free items, to see if anyone else can use the materials you no longer need.

You can also list the materials on Facebook Marketplace, either for free or for a reasonable fee. Just leave the materials on your doorstep for pickup, and that’s it!

Prepare Supplies For Recycling

Preparing your moving supplies is a step that will determine whether they are accepted by your local recycling center. That means breaking down cardboard boxes rather than placing them inside your recycling bin. You’ll also want to take care to remove any packing tape that’s left on the sides, as well as labels. Still, other recycling programs may require breaking down boxes into smaller, more manageable pieces. This helps make transport easier for the workers who handle it. Your local recycling center should have specific guidelines to follow on its website.

Get Creative With Leftover Material

If you have the energy after unpacking, some creative ways of using the left over moving materials besides recycling are:

Cardboard Boxes:

• Use them for storage of seasonal items, such as Christmas decorations
• Decorate them with paint or stickers as part of a fun new playhouse for kids
• Save them for the cat’s new hideout
• Save to use for carrying gifts for friends and family

Packing Peanuts:

• Use them for storing fragile items like Christmas ornaments during off-season
• Save for mailing packages containing fragile gifts

Bubble Wrap:

• Insulate your single-pane windows to help cut down on energy use
• Use for mailing packages containing breakable items

Plastic Wrap:

• Use to cover furniture or floors for messy household projects (or when kids want to break out the finger paint)
• Use to create a mini greenhouse for growing seeds

South Florida Moving Company

Moving can be stressful however hiring a professional moving company like Allegiance Van Lines, LLC can help ease that stress with a variety of services. From packing your belongings with care to storage facilities, we can help make the transition from one home to the next as smooth as possible.

Whether your move is local or long-distance, we’re here to help. Call today at 561-210-5120 for a free quote.