The warm weather brings moving trucks and cardboard boxes to the streets of New York. Here’s how to make the relocation process more friendly on your planet–and your body too!
1. Forego the cardboard. In place of cardboard boxes, go for a sturdier and more re-usable option: bins that can be purchased from a local thrift store. When you’re done with them, bring them back for someone else to use or, if you move around alot, store them in your tip-top closet shelves. You never know when they might come in handy. Or try rentagreenbox.com!
2. Make use of freecycle. If you’re downsizing or simply realizing that you have more stuff than you feel like carting up four flights of stairs, check out this Yahoo group. You’ll likely find someone who can pick up your stuff in a jiffy–even if that stuff is an opened box of dishwasher detergent. Having someone pick up your give-aways is a much better option than placing a "free" sign on it and setting it on the sidewalk where it could be considered trash or left as litter.
3. Re-think your furnishings. A new place means different furniture configurations, and you’re bound to end up needing a new piece. But think carefully before you start shopping craigslist for a new bookcase. Could you put your books spine-up in a crate? And if you’ve got a bookcase, you might consider giving it up since a crate might take up less space and is easier to maneuver. And, with a cover, it can function as a side table. Or put two crates of the same height near one another with an old door or other board on top of them and you’ve got yourself a desk! Check out weburbanist for more ideas on recycled furniture.
4. Wrap with what you own. This is probably a no brainer, but veto the paper wrapping! Use your dish towels and other linens (your clothes can work too!) to wrap your fragile pieces. You’ll save space–which equates to fewer trips up the stairs–and you won’t be wasting.
5. Cut down on your vehicle use. If it will save starting up the car even once, it’s worth carting some of your stuff. It’s a good excuse to get some exercise! Purchase a fold-up cart, and you’re on your way! Just be sure you’re lifting right.
For more on green moving, see the New York Times.
