It’s no surprise more and more people are looking into sustainable moving options these days: Moving can generate a lot of trash and materials that aren’t exactly friendly for the environment. Fortunately, there are many techniques to green up your moving experience without making things more complicated. If you are relocating to Bend, here are several of our favorite tips.
Note: If you are hiring professionals for most of these tasks, see if their practices involve similar eco-friendly rules and materials!
1. Start with a Clean-Up, Garage Sale, and Donation List
One of the most important first steps in moving is getting rid of everything you don’t need – going through all the storage, closets, clothes, and furniture (etc.) in your house and deciding what you are actually going to take with you – going Marie Kondo on absolutely everything you own.
You will probably find some debris that must be thrown away, but for most of your items, look into garage sales and donations (as well as standbys like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace) to keep usable items from taking up room in a landfill.
2. Get Recycled or Used Boxes
Never buy new boxes for your move! There are many other options that allow you to recycle or support sustainable activities. Local stores will often have cardboard boxes in good condition for free pickup, and there are even websites like Used Cardboard Boxes to help find pickup sites in your area. You also have the option to reduce waste even more by renting recycled plastic bins for your move, which a wide variety of rental and moving services now offer – check your local area for more opportunities.
3. Use Sustainable Packing Materials for Cushioning
Avoid buying packing materials when possible. Older clothes, blankets, and towels can usually be used to wrap and protect many items without any waste (a stack of old newspapers can also be a handy friend while packing). If you absolutely need to buy packing materials for cushioning, watch their colors! Green packing peanuts, for example, are color-coded so that you know they are 70% made of recycled materials and biodegradable.
4. Look for Biodiesel Transportation and Similar Mover Practices
When renting a truck or hiring a moving company, look for eco-friendly transportation. A growing number of services offer biodiesel moving trucks and similar options to help make the experience more sustainable. One popular example is EkoMovers, which offer a series of sustainable practices.
5. Stick with Basic, Eco-Friendly Cleaning Supplies
Moving to a new home usually involves a lot of cleaning before and after: Stick with sustainable cleaning supplies, and when possible don’t buy any additional cleaning chemicals at all. You can get a whole lot done with vinegar concoctions, baking soda, and elbow grease!
6. Create a Survival Kit to Cut Down on Waste When You’re Done
One source of waste when moving is buying disposable plates, plasticware, etc. once your kitchen is packed up. To avoid creating this waste, have a survival kit per person with a spare plate, silverware, cup, cloth, etc. that they can keep using and washing until you are finally living in Bend and ready to unpack.
If you have any other questions about living in Bend or your moving process, just let Bend Relocation Services know! Our relocation company in Central Oregon is happy to sweat the details so you can make focus on what matters most. We can help you find rentals in Bend, sign up for schools, and much more.
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