The average American sends 67 percent of its garbage to landfills. In San Francisco, that total is only 20 percent. This means that over 1.5 million tons of trash benefit from recycling yearly.
If relocation is in your immediate past or future, the disposal of cardboard boxes and moving supplies can present a problem. Recycling is an easy answer because of the availability of recycling bins. However, you have other choices available. The following tips can help you reuse and share moving supplies to reduce their environmental impact.
Social Networks
Craigslist often has users looking for moving supplies and boxes. Many will even pick them up from your home. All you have to do is look through the ads and send a reply, or you can always place your own.
Nextdoor, a social site that lets you connect with people in your neighborhood can help you find those who are looking for cardboard boxes and moving supplies. Another good resource for giving away things is the Freecycle network. This grassroots online community is also free to join.
Businesses
You can try calling local businesses to see if they need extra supplies. A local postal or shipping store might be interested in taking clean packing peanuts off your hands. They might also like to use any bubble wrap.
Find a local business that buys and sells used boxes for moving purposes. It would help if you acquired your boxes from one of these companies before the move, and then you can sell them back. However, any company that sells used boxes gets them from people like you, so it’s worth a try to see if they will buy.
Neighbors
While you probably don’t know your neighbors yet, use this chance to meet them. Once you introduce yourself, simply ask if they need any of the leftover supplies or if they know someone who does. It’s a great conversation starter and can help you get to know about the area too.
Donations
If you utilized a moving company, ask the movers if they have a need for the boxes. They just might take them off your hands. To get rid of extra tape and related supplies, donate them to schools and nursing homes. They can always use extra.
If all else fails or you don’t have time to pursue other avenues, simply place everything by the street. Someone will usually jump at the chance to get freebies. If you live in a complex that has a bulletin board, you can also place an ad on there.