If you think about it, moving can produce a lot of trash and be very wasteful. When you move, you’re sometimes so stressed out by the entire process, that you just throw things out, cram random stuff into boxes, and just try to get it over with as quick as possible.

But if you stop and think about it, a lot of the things you are throwing out or misplacing are things that others may need, or might be damaging to the planet. Here are 5 tips to helping green up your move and have it be less wasteful:

1. Donate and Recycle! If there are items that you no longer use or need that you don’t want to take with you when you move, then think about selling it, donating it, or recycling it. Depending on the item, if it is in good condition, it might be something that would be perfect to donate to your local Goodwill or Habitat. One person’s trash is another’s treasure, right? If it is old magazines or books you have been saving, donate them to your local library. If it is an item that isn’t in good condition, see if you can recycle it. There are several recourses online such as Earth 911, that will tell you what you can and can’t recycle, and where to recycle it locally.
2. Dispose of items safely: Did you find old prescription medicine for that awful cold you had 2 winters ago? Is there a stash of batteries that lost their juices that you stumbled across as you were packing? Find an old bridesmaid dress that made you look like a 13 year old prom queen? In all of those cases, you’re probably getting rid of those items. Make sure you think about the safety of disposing them. You don’t want to just put the pills and batteries in the trash can. You need to dispose of them safely by taking the batteries to a recycling center, and for the pills, this is still a debated issue. Flushing them down the toilet has its negative effects on the planet. Throwing them in the trash can be hazardous to your kids, pets, and mother earth. The best option is to give them back to your doctor or pharmacy if they will accept them.  For that bridesmaid dress, either donate, or maybe a thrift store could use the fabric for a new project? It’s worth looking into!
3. Be an effective packer! If you take the time to pack your boxes, then you will most likely do a better job at it. If you are organized and pack boxes to where you can’t fit one little pencil in the box because you put so much in it, then you’ve used that box to its fullest potential! Being able to fit more into a box (as long as it doesn’t bust open) you are using fewer boxes, and producing less waste!
4. Speaking of boxes, if you can get boxes that have already been used from your grocery store, liquor store, retail store, etc., then that is a better option. Reusing is a much better idea than buying brand new ones. Did you know that here at Exodus Moving and Storage, we give you 30 recycled boxes if you choose to move with us?! Pretty awesome, right? And better than boxes, use crates and bins. They’re more sturdy and can be used for several other things after your move!
5. Plan. If you take the time to organize and plan your move (and the key is giving yourself time) then you won’t be throwing junk out left and right, throwing things in boxes and taping them up, using more than you need, etc. Planning is so important if you are moving for your stress levels also, so make sure you do it!

Hope these tips are helpful, and you can learn more about having a successful move at http://exodusmoving.com

If you’re moving; whether it’s down the street or across the county, planning your move can make it a much smoother process. Like anything, when you have a game plan, things often fall into place and the unknowns are much less.

Relocations, whether it’s a commercial move or a residential move, can be stressful. Uprooting your family and/or office is a big process and working with experienced movers can make it much easier. However, not everyone does work with experienced movers (unfortunately). One way to prevent some headaches is do your research and know what questions to ask. This would be the very first step to planning your move.

Next, having a check list to follow can be extremely helpful. If you’re not an experienced mover or professional mover, it is very easy to overlook small and big things while planning to move. If you have a check list to follow along with, you will find peace of mind during this, what can be, stressful process.

These are just a few steps to ensure a smoother and less stressful move. By planning and being organized, moving doesn’t have to be stressful!

You can learn more by visiting our Planning Your Move page and please feel free to ask us any questions about your move; we’re here to help!