Six Ways to Make Your Move Environmentally Responsible

Karama C. Neal, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Mar 5, 2009 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."

My family and I recently moved from Atlanta to Little Rock, and though the process wasn't nearly as bad as I had feared (thank you, Kwadjo!) we did create much more waste than I would have liked - packing material, tape, household items, and all those boxes (full of books, no less)!

The process inspired me to find ways to move greenly, that is, in an environmentally responsible manner. (Yes, I finally succumbed to using the word green and not meaning a color.) So if you're planning a move, consider these methods to reduce your footprint to only those required to get from your old home to your new one:

* Donate usable items that won't make the move with you. Clothes, books, kitchenware, and other items are often gladly accepted by human services agencies. The key here is to start early. If you wait until the last minute, you may not have time to drop off the items and the agencies may not be able schedule a pickup on short notice. In many communities, you can call 211 to find a list of local human services agencies.

* Reclaim used boxes. You can often get them for free at grocery stores. Or try Freecycle.org, Craigslist.org, or UsedCardboardBoxes.com.

* Choose reusable plastic boxes. There are some great services now that deliver clean, sturdy, reusable plastic boxes, then pick them up at your new place after you move. Find them at Rentagreenbox.com, greenmoversusa.com, earthfriendlymoving.com, or other companies.

* Use biofuel for the move. A number of companies now promote their use of biodiesel fueled trucks for moving.

* Donate your boxes to UsedCardboardBoxes.com. They'll make sure they get a second life. This is also a great opportunity for companies that go through a lot of boxes.

* Recycle your boxes once you unpack them at your new place. Check early to find out your new pick up dates or drop off locations.

These are just a few of the many ways to make your next move less painful for you and for our planet.

"Forever is composed of nows." - Emily Dickinson

Published by Karama C. Neal

Karama C. Neal is the editor of "So what can I do," the public service weblog promoting ethics in action View profile