When you move, whether for a new job, for family, or for any other reason, you'll invest plenty of time and money into your move. It's a process as you have to move all your things from point A to point B.
Moving requires fuel, packing supplies, time, money, and other resources. If you want to move in the most eco-friendly way possible, hiring a moving company and renting plastic moving boxes is a good start.
However, you can't just hire any moving company. A green moving company will make your move more eco-friendly, but you need to know what to expect. Not all moving companies are green and some claim to be green but are not as eco-friendly as you might desire.
Here are a few of the things you can expect from a green moving company.
Minimum Cardboard Usage
While cardboard is recyclable, and a very popular choice for moving companies, green moving companies use very little cardboard. Instead, they will likely rent you reusable plastic moving boxes, which means far less cardboard to recycle or throw out after the move.
Packing Supplies Will Be Recyclable
Many of the most common packing supplies cannot be recycled, including clear plastic tape. In addition, most packing supplies are not easy to recycle, which means they end up in the trash most of the time.
Since a green moving company will use plastic moving boxes, there won't be much need for packing tape. In addition, they will likely recommend that you use your soft goods (towels, linens, clothing, etc.) for packing materials before purchasing anything additional.
Any packing materials you do buy will likely be recyclable.
Moving Trucks Will Use Biodiesel
Instead of moving trucks running on diesel, a green moving company will have trucks using biodiesel fuel made from biodegradable, natural sources.
Along with using a better, cleaner fuel in their trucks, a green moving company will also have trucks with battery-powered curbside lifts. These lifts don't require the engine of the truck to idle while the lift is being used. This ensures less fuel is used during the moving process.
Provide Connections to Location Recycling and Donation Sites
When you hire a green moving company, they will likely provide you with a list of places to donate things you don't need or want. They will also know where you can recycle anything you need to recycle from cardboard to old electronics.
Offer Eco-Friendly Storage Facilities
It's not uncommon to need storage during a move. Maybe you're moving from out of state and you need to store some of your things while shopping for a house. You may be living in a smaller apartment or even in a hotel temporarily.
If this is the case, a green moving company will either offer eco-friendly storage facilities or be able to recommend a green facility for you. Green storage facilities take advantage of natural light through skylights and windows. It's also common for these facilities to provide efficient insulation for climate control, along with recyclable and renewable containers for storage.
When it's time to move, you want to make sure you have the right green moving company for your needs. These are just a few of the many things you can expect from a green moving company. Look for these traits and ask plenty of questions before settling on the right moving company for you.
