How to make your move more environment-friendly according to movers in Austin

Want to do your part to save the planet? Moving is an easy way to increase our carbon footprint. Research studies reveal that moving accounts for 4 percent of all household greenhouse gas emissions in the United States alone. But the good news is that you can do something about that. By planning in advance for your move, you can find ways to minimize what you’re going to load in the trucks of Austin movers. Here are the best tips on how to make your next move more environment-friendly.

Why local movers recommend an environment-friendly moving process

When you are moving to another city, there are many things to be taken care of. You need to make sure you have bought tickets for your journey, made sure that the house is sold off or rented out, and that the new place is completely ready for living in.

The list can go on and on but what comes up next is how environment-friendly will your move be? Even if one thing goes wrong during the moving procedure, it will reflect negatively on the whole process, making it an unpleasant moving experience.

For instance, many people who decide to lower their carbon footprint when moving choose to sell used appliances instead of using them in their new home. Movers in Austin also recommend that the most important thing you can do to improve your environmental impact when you relocate is to pack and unpack efficiently and recycle what you can.

How to make your next move more environment-friendly

How environmentally friendly will your move be? There are a lot of ways to do it from being more conscious of your packing to hiring Austin moving companies. Here are some ways to do it.

Use recycled boxes or cloth bags.

Many businesses and stores offer reusable boxes or crates from their suppliers at low or no cost. So, ask around if you’d like to save some on your packing containers. Make sure they don’t have any structural damage before using them to avoid damaging your belongings.

However, if you have to buy boxes, choose durable ones made from recycled cardboard or ones that are recyclable. A full service moving company will also provide you with boxes as part of their services.

Use recyclable containers.

Reusable containers such as plastic boxes and totes are better than single-use cardboard bins. For filling, using newspapers to fill in the gaps of spaces is an option. Bubble wrap can be recycled if it does not break, but most cannot be used again. Using newspapers, however, reduces waste from taking up space in a landfill and saves money by reusing what you already own.

If you don’t have reusable plastic containers, try sourcing cardboard moving boxes from stores such as Walmart or Target. They can provide you with these when they have extra pieces to dispose of.

Cloth bags are another alternative since they fold up easily for storage or transport and usually have handles attached. You can carry them more quickly than other types of containers too. If you decide to go with sacks, never compromise their quality as thin materials often break when filled with too much stuff.

Use biodegradable packing peanuts.

Made from natural, non-toxic sources such as wheat and corn starch, biodegradable packing peanuts pack easily and take up more room than their value. They work great for filling boxes or voids between valuable goods and furniture or bulky objects. Rather than being thrown away after a single use, packing peanuts are reusable for a variety of purposes.

They also protect your belongings better than bubble wrap. And the best thing is, they do not pop as easily or leave those annoying air bubbles all over the place.

Donate or resell items you don’t need.

Moving is an excellent opportunity to purge your belongings and find new ways to live that don’t require as many items. Some apps will help you learn how to minimize waste when you move by finding out what can be recycled near you.

Donate or sell anything you don’t need or have room for anymore so others can benefit from it, especially if it’s high-quality goods! Check out local Facebook groups where people post ads for free goods they will give away. You might also come across a few pieces of furniture that would be better off in someone else’s house. Sell them or give them away to reduce the amount of waste going into the garbage.

Opt for clean fuel.

If you’re planning on renting a truck or a van from Austin movers, look into getting one that runs on biodiesel fuel. This will have the added benefit of supporting local farmers and businesses as well. While this won’t reduce your carbon footprint by itself, it does contribute to creating a more sustainable environment. Other Austin moving companies will also be happy to discuss their clean fuel use with you.

Choose environment-friendly professional Austin movers.

Save yourself some money by taking advantage of moving companies specializing in eco-friendly services. These companies will often offer green moving services at a lower cost than traditional movers but with the same level of professionalism.

A reliable moving company should have everything under control, making your moving experience stress-free. In addition, it should recycle as many items as possible and use non-hazardous materials. A good Austin mover will also observe local and national laws with regard to protecting the environment.

They should ideally use recycled packing materials like plastic bags that can be used more than once and don’t cause harm to the environment. In addition, they should ensure that gas is used in the right proportions, vehicles are properly maintained with an eco-friendly practice, ensuring no toxic spills all over the place to avoid health hazards.

Tip: Ask questions to as many movers in Austin as possible about how they plan to pack everything and where they will place the boxes so that you know if they have handled such moves before. This will give you a better comparison on whom to hire.

Keep packing materials for future use.

Recycle all packing materials at the end of moving day. Try to reuse them when you pack up again for your next move. You can hold onto them for your next move or donate them if you are moving far away. Otherwise, your Austin movers will be happy to collect them back so they can use it for their next packing services.

Clean your new place with the environment in mind.

Use a bar of non-toxic, biodegradable dish soap or laundry detergent. In addition, phosphate-free cleaning supplies that can prevent damaging soil quality for future generations of plants to come.

Frequently Asked Questions about making your next move more environment-friendly

1. Why should packing and moving be environment-friendly?

   Not using recyclable material during the moving process can cause a lot of damage because your trash will add to the tons of garbage that will take hundreds of years to decompose. If you leave them behind, they will end up in the landfill and pollute the area. Harmful chemicals from plastics could seep into groundwater or other resources used by wildlife and their habitats, causing significant issues throughout the years.

2. What’s the best way to be eco-friendly when packing?

   If you pack your own belongings in reused or recycled boxes, this is better for the environment because the materials are being re-used rather than thrown away.

3. What’s the importance of hiring an eco-friendly Austin moving company?

   A green moving company can provide you with better moving services to help your move be more environment-friendly. It will also have the proper equipment and expertise to pack and transport your belongings. This is especially helpful when shipping artwork or antiques which require extra care during their moving services.

—

Enjoy a streamlined relocation with expert moving teams no matter where you live with Heavenly Moving and Storage. Book your move knowing you have the full support of the only moving company in Austin on ABJ’s 2021 Best Places to Work and Best of the Best Moving Company Finalist. Get your free quote today or call us at 512-340-0551.