How to Make Moving Easy the Eco-Friendly Way

For the past four years I have been moving back and forth between home and school. Every August, December, May, and sometimes July I found myself packing and moving everything I owned to a new location. Needless to say it gets messy and very stressful. There were times when I was more stressed out by moving and cleaning than my final exams.

Fortunately, I've learned some tips and tricks along the way to make a massive move more efficient and eco-friendly.

How to avoid moving a mountain of garbage: If you have a lot of surplus you can always have a yard sale and make a small profit for new projects. If you don't have time for a yard sale you can always donate your goods. My university always chose to do the latter. At the end of every year when everyone was moving out there would be a room on the first floor dedicated to donations. We called it the "grab room" because you never knew what you would find down there. The students were always very generous and you would be able to acquire anything from mattress pads, to clothes, to refrigerators. When everything was said and done the rest would go to a shelter in Immokalee, FL. This year the "grab room" was literally overflowing into the hallway and we were not able to walk out the door because of all the donations that were made

How to avoid buying shipping supplies: Keep old boxes! This may seem like common sense but you would be surprised how many times my room mates and I threw away boxes because we weren't thinking. If the area is small on storage space (like my dorm room) then pile them on top of a wardrobe or keep them under the bed. In terms of styrofoam packing, shred a ton of scrap paper instead!

How to avoid packing electronics and appliances you don't need: This happens a lot in college, especially to seniors who are leaving for good. This could also happen to people who have an excess of kitchen appliances. The answer to avoiding the problem is simple: REUSE. Ask your neighbors if they need anything. For instance, I was no longer in need a mini fridge and there was no way I could fit it in my car. I proceeded to post a message on my Facebook to see if any underclassmen needed a fridge and ended up giving it to a girl who really needed one but couldn't afford it. If you can't reuse appliances or electronics then please recycle them! All of these items have metals that can be recycled over and over again.

These are just a few simple ways to make your move more efficient, greener, and more giving! Happy moving!