Pack In Boxes You Already Have
To reduce the number of boxes required for your move, consider using containers you already own to pack your belongings. These could include plastic bins, suitcases, dresser drawers, gym bags, duffel bags, and reusable grocery totes. You can also maximize space by filling up any item that can accommodate other things, such as lining your small bathroom trash bin with a garbage bag to store items from under your sink. By utilizing your existing containers, you can avoid the need to purchase additional moving boxes.
Collect Boxes Before Your Move
Although online shopping is not the most environmentally friendly method of acquiring goods, it has become a common aspect of modern life. However, you can make the boxes your online purchases arrive in more useful by reusing them during your next move. If you know that you will be moving soon or relocate regularly, start collecting the boxes you receive from your online orders. Break them down and store them in a garage, basement, or under your bed until you need them. To move sustainably, only purchase new moving boxes as a last resort and attempt to gather used boxes from other sources first. Reach out to friends, family members, and local grocery and retail stores, and post on social media to see if anyone has extra boxes that you can obtain. With enough effort, you should be able to obtain the boxes you require.
Packing Materials
Unlike cardboard boxes, packing materials such as those used to wrap items for safe transport are not easily recyclable. Although you can recycle these materials at designated collection points, many individuals fail to do so and instead dispose of these packing materials in the garbage. Before obtaining difficult-to-dispose-of materials, consider utilizing what you already possess. You can use towels, linens, comforters, and even clothes to safely wrap your items for packing. If additional materials are required, begin with newspaper, which can be disposed of in your standard recycling bin.
Donate
Moving presents an excellent opportunity to declutter and repurpose items that are no longer useful. As you prepare for your move, sort the items you wish to discard into three piles: "donate," "recycle," and "toss". It is advisable to keep the "toss" pile as small as possible and only include items that cannot be used for any other purpose. You can donate items that are still in good condition to various local organizations and animal shelters. When disposing of items in your recycle pile, ensure that you are doing so in the correct manner.