Issue Date: July 6, 2008
Make an eco-move
Each year, 13% of Americans move. And the average move uses more than 55 cardboard boxes. That's a lot of trash. The next time you move, cut your waste with these tips:
Use eco-friendly boxes. Companies such as EarthFriendlyMoving.com and Rentacrate.com rent reusable plastic boxes. They're easier to stack than cardboard boxes, less wasteful and have a longer life span. If there are no such options near you, at least reuse your cardboard boxes. U-Haul locations have box drop-off sites, where you can discard or pick up old boxes, or goto the U-Haul Box Exchange (uhaul.com/boxexchange), a message board for trading, buying or selling moving supplies.
Hire a local mover. "Local movers keep their money in the community," says Spencer Brown, founder of EarthFriendlyMoving.com. "If a moving company is driving 80 miles to do your job and charges you a commuting fee, it's not local."
Print out good directions. "Most people move and don't know their new address well," Brown says. He has seen movers lost for more than an hour, wasting valuable gas because of a lack of communication.
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