How to Reduce Waste When Moving Home

27.05.2020 GREEN LIVING 0.0 0

reduce waste when moving home

Moving to a new house can be a stressful experience. Coordinating with letting or estate agents, packing, and living out of cardboard boxes might feel like more than enough to deal with, without having to think about how to be more environmentally friendly. However, moving home can quickly turn into one of the most wasteful things that we do in our lives.

There are a few simple steps that it is possible to take, which will help you reduce waste whilst moving, without causing you any additional stress during the process.

Make your packaging environmentally friendly

One of the most wasteful aspects of a house move is often the sheer amount of cardboard that gets used once and is thrown away. Many removal firms offer package deals, which allow you to buy dozens of boxes at exceptionally low cost. Whilst this might be tempting, it is perfectly possible to get by without having to purchase your boxes new.

If you have advanced notice of your move, start hoarding the boxes that you accumulate in your day to day life. In a matter of a few months, you may well find you have a sizeable supply ready to go. Ask friends who have recently moved whether they have any to spare, or even visit local shops and claim any spare boxes they have from deliveries. Many shops will put these out for the public to take, to reduce their own wastage.

You can also save money, and resources, by avoiding packaging peanuts and other expensive fillers. It is definitely possible to use clothes, bedding, or if you have to – old newspapers, to pad out and protect your fragile items.

Donate or store

Depending on your circumstances, you may find that you do not necessarily want to take all of your furniture with you when you move. Maybe you want to buy brand new things, or maybe you simply do not have space. Particularly if you are moving temporarily into rented accommodation whilst waiting for a house purchase to finalise, you may well find yourself with lots of furniture and nowhere to put it.

There are several options that you can consider at this stage. If you are sure you don’t wish to keep them, many charities will accept high-quality goods such as furniture and decorative items, many – including Sue Ryder and the Red Cross - offer collection of large items in some parts of the country. Do note that charities will rarely accept electrical goods, due to safety regulations.

Alternatively, storage can be a superb and surprisingly cost-effective solution. Safestore offers a range of flexible storage options to assist you during your home move, whether you need a short-term place to store furniture whilst you move into temporary accommodation, or you’re looking for something more long-term.