Eco Movers

When you hear the terms “green movers” or “green moving,” it might conjure up images of aliens packing your things in large bamboo and moving around NYC.

In actuality, green movers and green moving means being conscientious of our environment and employing methods that are not harmful to the earth. Green movers and green moving is a growing trend in the moving industry. It involves tweaking practices that have historically been big on waste such as throwing away cardboard boxes and bubble wrap or moving your belongings in smoke-belching semi trucks Green moving in NYC means scaling back a bit.

Granted, the green theme has permeated many industries. Traditionally non-green industries such as automotive, energy and housing are now embracing new business practices that take into account short- and long-term effects on the environment. Likewise, green moving has gained in popularity, moving the demand for green moving into a prominent position.

Green Moving Tips from green movers

• This seems obvious, but don’t accumulate as much stuff in the first place. Less is generally better for the planet anyway, and the less stuff you move, the less gas your moving truck will burn. Green moving can also translate into more "green" for you because you’ll likely spend less to move your household.
• Get rid of stuff before you move it, be green. Consider holding a garage sale, or selling your unnecessary items online at eBay or through Craigslist.
• Buy used cardboard boxes. Moving companies generally prefer that customers use new cardboard boxes to ensure stability, which means a lot of cardboard boxes get tossed after only one use. If using cardboard boxes look for boxes made of recycled material, be a green mover.
• Rent moving boxes. When packing, take advantage of companies that offer reusable packing crates, which can eliminate that waste. One such outfit that rents sturdy packing crates made of recycled plastic bottles is California-based Earth Friendly Moving. The company drops off the crates before you move and picks them up afterward in its fleet of bio-diesel trucks. Another company is Rent-A-Crate, a nationwide firm that offers moving crates made of recyclable high density polypropylene.
• Cut back on the bubble wrap. You can use old newspapers for non-fragile items, or even old sheets or towels as packing material. These weigh more and don’t offer as much benefit as the lighter bubble wrap, but anything you can do to cut back helps.
• Look for environmentally-friendly cleaning products when moving out. Seventh Generation is a national brand of cleaning products that makes toilet bowl cleaners, dishwashing powder and carpet cleaners. These products can be found at many large discount chains such as Target.
• Hire moving companies that tout environmentally friendly attributes, green movers just like us. One such firm is Go Green Moving, which owns bio-diesel trucks, uses moving pads made of 100% recycled cotton and rents packing crates.
• Ask that a company employ eco-friendly practices, especially if it doesn't. If moving companies believe that consumers are demanding environmentally friendly moves, the moving industry will feel obligated to adopt green moving methods.

Green Movers Tips for an eco-attitude

Finally, after you’ve moved in to your new home, it’s a good time to think about other ways you can leave less of an environmental footprint.

• You can stop junk mail by registering with the Mail Preference Service at the Direct Marketing Association. It won’t stop all the stuff you get daily in your mail, but it will help to reduce a large portion of unwanted paper.
• Set up a recycling center in your new kitchen where it’s easy and handy to separate paper from plastic recyclables . Making recycling easy to do ensures that you’ll be more likely to do it.
• Think before buying. When shopping for a non-essential item, ask yourself a simple question: When the time comes to move again, will you relish the idea of moving it?
• Reduce the possessions you own by recycling or donating an item when you bring a similar item into your home
• If you're one of the 40 million Americans who move every year, here are some solutions to make your next move more eco-friendly.
• Plan ahead
• Have you ever waited until the last minute to pack for a trip, only to take half of your wardrobe along for the ride? Well, packing up to move at the last minute is like that, but to the extreme. You'll discover things you haven't seen since your last moving day, so don't wait until the van is on the way to address your excess stuff.
• If you start packing a few weeks in advance, you'll have time to get rid of things you really don't need. Be realistic: If you haven't worn a pair of jeans since the summer after college graduation, it's probably time to part with them. Have a yard sale or donate extra belongings to a charity. You'll use less fuel if you transport only the things you actually use. Learn how to declutter and organized before you move.
• Hire an eco-friendly moving company
• While you're searching for a reputable company to help with your move, look at their environmental credentials, too. Does the company use gas-guzzling trucks or biodiesel rigs? Does it sell recycled boxes? Will the movers help you pack and organize to use the fewest possible boxes?
• You'll have enough to worry about on moving day, so hiring an eco-friendly mover will make it easier to be green.
• Stock up on packing material
• Buying boxes from your mover can be costly, but you can likely get them free around your community. Ask local businesses about giving you their packing boxes; most stores throw away their materials after they unload the contents.
• You can also save your own bubble wrap, boxes and envelopes for your move. A little planning can help you save money, and you'll save some boxes from a landfill fate.
• Buy recycled boxes
• Don't have the time to scrounge around town for boxes? Let someone else do it for you. UsedCardboardBoxes.com collects boxes that are on their way to the dump from businesses around the country. They also use some new boxes that are factory misprints and overruns. Then, they pack them into handy kits complete with tape, packing paper and markers. Select the number of rooms you need to pack up and the boxes will be shipped to you in one or two business days.
• Although it's cheaper than buying brand-new boxes, the convenience is still going to cost you. For instance, the three-bedroom home kit costs $154 from UsedCardboardBoxes.com. The same setup would be $212 and $238 at U-Haul.com and BoxBros.com, respectively.
• Use these recycled plastic boxes and then send them back
• If you don't want to create any moving waste, Earth Friendly Moving has a solution with Recopack (short for Recycled Ecological Packing Solution) boxes. The company rents the reusable moving tubs made from recycled materials for "a buck a box a week." The totes are delivered to your door in a biodiesel truck, and you pack, stack and move them yourself. When you're done with the boxes, they'll come pick them up. The company also sells eco-friendly packing material: recycled paper cubes that can be composted after the big day.
• The only catch: Earth Friendly Moving only delivers in Southern California right now, but look out for their products nationwide in a couple of years.
• Start packing in containers you already have first
• You'll probably need a few boxes to tote your stuff in, but pack as much as you can in containers you already have. Haul out your suitcases and plastic bins and fill them up. Use pillows -- not paper -- to package fragile items. This will consolidate your stuff with zero waste.
• Make the fewest trips possible between the two locales
• Pack up your car to reduce the number of van runs between the new and old house. However, you should hire a van rather than using your car for several cross-town trips. Plan your trip to use the least fuel possible.
• Recycle your packing materials
• No matter where you get those moving boxes, make sure to recycle them after the journey. Find a friend or fellow mover to give them to, or advertise online to find a taker. At the least, take them to the recycling center -- not the trash bin.

We offer you our green movers’ advice to make your next move more eco-friendly and hire a green movers company.

Plan ahead, start packing a couple of day before the actual move, or else you might just carry all unnecessary stuff with you. Take time to carefully select your stuff. Learn how to declutter and organize your green move.

Hire eco-friendly moving company, green movers that take into account the environmental aspect of their business. While you're searching for a reputable green movers company to help with your move, look at their environmental credentials, too. Does the company use gas-guzzling trucks or biodiesel rigs? Does it sell recycled boxes? Will the movers help you pack and organize to use the fewest possible boxes?

You'll have enough to worry about on moving day, so hiring a green mover will make it easier to be environmentally friendly.

Stock up on green packing material
Buying boxes from your mover can be costly, but you can likely get them free around your community. Ask local businesses about giving you their packing boxes; most stores throw away their materials after they unload the contents.

You can also save your own bubble wrap, boxes and envelopes for your move. A little planning can help you save money, and you'll save some boxes from a landfill fate.

Buy recycled boxes – “green” boxes

• Use these recycled plastic boxes and then send them back.
• Start packing in green containers you already have first.
• Make the fewest trips possible between the two locales.

Recycle your packing materials
Green movers NYC is a moving company dedicated to making your move easy, fast and environmentally friendly.