2 min read
25 Apr
25Apr

How Does ZOOMALO make Moving Greener?

Moving isn’t exactly known for being an environmentally-friendly process. Sure, moving boxes are recyclable, but along the way most movers accumulate a lot of trash, waste a lot of materials, and do a lot of driving.  ZOOM-A-LO  uses small, highly fuel efficient vans and offers the following tips to you.   These  tips can make a pretty big environmental impact over the course of our moves.

Fortunately, it is actually rather simple to reduce your carbon footprint by embracing green moving, especially when you plan ahead. Do the planet – and in most cases, your pocketbook – a favor by incorporating these eco-friendly tips into your next move.

1. Pack in containers you already have. You’re likely always going to need some boxes for your move, but you can greatly cut down on the total amount by using containers you already have to pack up your items. These include:

Plastic Bins
Buying them is not recommended.
Not advisable for dishes, fragile items or heavy items such as books.
Must be wrapped with stretch wrap, which keeps them from opening or sliding around.

Suitcases
Great for clothes.

Dresser Drawers
Only light weight things, pillows etc.
Heavy things can damage the drawers and makes it heavier for the loaders.

Gym bags and duffel bags
Great for clothes, blankets, soft items.
Unbreakable items are best. Nothing that can be damaged

Reusable grocery totes only as a liner
If you have an item that can fit other things inside of it, fill it up before packing it. For example, line your small bathroom trash bin with a fresh garbage bag and use it to pack items from under your sink. The more you can fit in containers you already have, the more you can avoid having to rely on purchased moving boxes.

2. Store boxes you receive throughout the year. Even though online shopping isn’t the most environmentally conscious way to stock up on what you need, it’s a pretty standard part of modern life, so may as well have the boxes your items come in do double duty. If you know that you have an impending move coming up, or if you just tend to move pretty regularly, start to keep the boxes you receive when you order packages online so that you can use them later on. Break them down and store them in your garage or basement or even under your bed, anywhere out of sight and mind until the time comes when you can use them again.

3. If you need more boxes, get them used!

ZOOMALO recovers boxes from every move we do and have them available for you. We have everything you need, we recycle:

  1. Boxes
  2. Packing paper (yes it is hard to flatten out, but we do it)
  3. Bubble wrap
  4. Form packing materials
  5. Packing peanuts
  6. Wooden crate for valuable large pieces

To help you move green, Zoomalo spends the time to recycle . We have new moving boxes as a last resort and try to compile used boxes from other places first.

4. Get creative with packing materials. Unlike cardboard boxes, other packing materials – in particular the materials you use to wrap up your items for safe traveling – are not so easily recycled. You can recycle those materials at special collection points.

Before you start acquiring materials that are difficult to properly dispose of, start with what you already have.

You can use towels, (great for putting in the bottom of the boxes to protect your dishes) linens, comforters, and even clothes to safely wrap up items for packing. If you need additional materials, start with newspaper, which you can throw in your standard recycling bin.

5. Don’t pack your entire kitchen right away. The kitchen is one of the hardest rooms to pack, and it makes sense that many movers tackle it first. But once all of your dishes and flatware are stored away, you’re going to be forced to rely on plastic plates, cups, and utensils to get by. As a better alternative, leave out just enough kitchen items to get you through the moving process so that you don’t get stuck using non-sustainable materials for your meals.


6. Do fewer trips back and forth. Try to make the fewest amount of trips possible with your move. Skip the small trips to and from your new place and focus on getting all of your items shipped on moving day. If you do plan to do some of the moving yourself, pack as much as possible into your car or van instead of doing it little by little. The less trips you can make during your move, the better.

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