This is a collaborative post
If you are trying to live a zero-waste lifestyle then moving house could fill you with fear. How will you move house without making excess waste and make it all as environmentally friendly as possible? This starts a few weeks before you move.
Avoiding food waste
Plan all your meals as soon as you know you are moving so that you can use up as much as possible, especially in the fridge and freezer so there is nothing to throw away when you actually move.
Reuse items you already own for packaging
If possible using things you already own for packaging is a great way of reducing waste. Teddy bears, tea towels, bedding, cushions and clothes can be great for packaging items around.
Choose a local removal company
Fuel is so wasteful but of course, you need a removal van to move house, this is something you can not avoid. However, when searching for suitable companies you should try to find local companies and those which have the perfect size vehicle for your belongings so that minimal fuel is used unnecessarily. Man Van London has a variety of vans suitable for house moves and can even give you free quotes online which is handy and saves time!
Avoid single-use plastic
If you can avoid using binbags but instead use suitcases, large IKEA bags or similar it can really reduce the waste and of course save money too. Unless you are moving during the prime holiday season it is likely that you can borrow suitcases from friends or family for clothes which is so much easier than binbags!
Use someone else’s boxes
Don’t waste money buying boxes and packaging materials. The most environmentally friendly way to pack up your house and with zero waste is to find someone else who has moved house or a shop that has excess boxes that you can use for packaging. It is such a money saver and some boxes can be used tens of times before having to be recycled.
When you have finished with them simply post them on your local freecycle or Facebook group to see who you can pass them on to use next! I have often seen these posts so I am in no doubt that you will find someone to pass your boxes to next or equally find someone to give you boxes before your move!
We moved house recently and I am currently in the process of doing just this, posting on Facebook to see who can use the bubble wrap and boxes I have unpacked!