Relocating can be an exciting adventure, but it can also be stressful. One thing that often gets overlooked is the impact moving has on the environment. Whether you’re moving within Chicago or across the country, you can pack up your belongings in a way that’s sustainable and minimizes waste. Wondering how to pack for a green move? Here are some tips to help.
The great news is that you can minimize your carbon footprint and move in an eco-friendly manner, even if you’re moving to a bustling city like Chicago. In this blog post, we’ll share some tricks and tips for making your move as green as possible.
1. Declutter and Donate
Before you start packing, take some time to declutter your home. This will help you reduce the amount of stuff you need to move, which means fewer trips and less fuel consumption. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to donate items you no longer need or use to a local charity or thrift store. In Chicago, there are many organizations that accept donations of clothing, furniture, electronics, and other household items. Some of these organizations include:
- Goodwill Industries
- The Salvation Army
- Brown Elephant Resale Shops
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Not only will you be doing something good for the environment, but you’ll also be helping out your community.
2. Use Eco-Friendly Packing Materials
When it comes to packing, there are many eco-friendly alternatives to traditional packing materials like bubble wrap and Styrofoam peanuts. For example, you can use old towels, blankets, and newspapers to wrap fragile items instead of bubble wrap. You can also use biodegradable packing peanuts made from cornstarch or recycled paper. These options are just as effective as their traditional counterparts and are much better for the environment.
In addition to using eco-friendly materials, try to pack efficiently to minimize the number of boxes you need. This will reduce the amount of waste you generate and make your move more efficient.
3. Choose a Green Moving Company
If you’re hiring a moving company, choose one that has a commitment to sustainability. Look for a company that uses biodiesel fuel for their trucks, recycles their packing materials, and has a policy of minimizing waste. Some moving companies even specialize in eco-friendly moving services. Here are a few green moving companies in Chicago:
4. Opt for Sustainable Transportation
Transportation is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, so it’s important to consider how you’re going to move your belongings. If you’re moving locally in Chicago, consider renting a hybrid or electric vehicle instead of a traditional moving truck. There are many car rental companies in Chicago that offer hybrid and electric vehicles, including Enterprise, Hertz, and Zipcar. If you’re moving long-distance, consider using a rail service instead of a trucking company. Shipping your belongings by train is much more fuel-efficient than shipping them by truck.
5. Offset Your Carbon Footprint
Even if you take all the necessary steps to minimize your carbon footprint during your move, there will still be some emissions that you can’t avoid. One way to offset these emissions is to purchase carbon offsets. Carbon offsets are credits that are purchased to support projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as renewable energy projects or methane capture projects. There are several organizations that offer carbon offset programs, including Carbonfund.org and TerraPass.
6. Be Mindful of Hazardous Waste
When you’re packing up your home, it’s important to be mindful of hazardous waste items like batteries, cleaning products, and electronics. These items should not be thrown away with your regular trash as they can be harmful to the environment. Instead, look for local hazardous waste disposal sites or drop-off events where you can safely dispose of these items.
In Chicago, the City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation hosts several Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling events throughout the year. These events allow residents to drop off items like old computers, TVs, and cleaning products for safe disposal.
7. Go Paperless
During the moving process, you’ll likely have a lot of paperwork to keep track of like contracts, receipts, and bills. Rather than printing everything out and adding to the waste stream, opt for electronic versions instead. You can scan documents and save them to your computer or use digital tools like DocuSign to sign contracts electronically.
8. Green Your New Home
Once you’ve arrived at your new home in Chicago, there are many things you can do to continue your environmentally friendly practices. Start by installing energy-efficient light bulbs and a programmable thermostat. You can also switch to eco-friendly cleaning products and start composting your food waste. Chicago has a robust composting program that allows residents to compost their food waste in their own backyard or at one of several drop-off locations throughout the city.
Conclusion
Relocating in an environmentally friendly manner in Chicago is not only possible but also easy. By following these tips and tricks, you can minimize your carbon footprint and make your move as green as possible. Remember, every little bit helps when it comes to protecting our environment.
