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Moving Logistics

Real Estate Agent: When searching out a real estate professional, find one that is as dedicated to the environment as they can possibly be. Are they distributing green ad specialty items such as cards and flyers with flower seeds embedded? Are they printing on recycled paper? Do they drive an economy car or do they prefer luxury over the environment? Do they have a list of their environmental activities posted on their website for all to see? Do they get involved in organizing community clean up days?
Insurance Agent: Any professional agent worthy of your business, should be one of "movers and shakers" of the local environmental efforts. They should be out front leading the charge on behalf of the community and the local environment. Look for Earth Mom icon and review their list of eco-accomplishments before settling on just anyone.

Moving Van/Rental Truck: Before you choose a rental truck, find an operation that is deserving of your business. Check their web pages for information on what they're doing on behalf of the environment. Their trucks should be clean, well maintained and boast of high fuel efficiency. If they have a truck wash on their lot, the water should be filtered and recycled before going into the public sewers. If they're not making efforts, find a rental company that is.

Temp Labor: When seeking labor to help with your move, ask if the company provides or organizes a car pool to get the helpers to and from the job. Be sure to check with company website for news and updates on all that they do on behalf of the environment. It's important to note, that you have a choice when engaging services of any type. Let everyone you know that how they're approaching the needs of the environment factors large in your decision for do business and send future referrals their way.
Green Energy Utilities: It's possible to opt for 100% clean energy. You can either have a large enough solar system installed on your roof, or opt for clean energy sources. Having a more than adequate solar energy systems means you have chance to sell your extra energy to the major utilities. You may have to pay a few pennies more for totally green energy however a certificate attesting to that fact displayed on your wall and posted on your website can more than make up any difference in cost.
Green Moving: Each time you move provides a great opportunity to examine and alter your personal buying habits. When planning your move, go through your entire household and determine what can be donated, sold or recycled. The fewer items you move, the less cost and energy required to box, transport and store at your new location. The further ahead you can plan, the more time you have to reduce the load you have to move.
Packing Boxes: Realtors and moving companies will many times provide a number of cardboard boxes that can be returned when you're move is complete. Avoid re-using produce or soiled boxes from your local grocery store as you can inadvertently carry molds and bacteria into your new household.
Packaging Materials: Before you toss out all the old clothes and worn bath towels, set them aside to use as packaging materials for your more sensitive or fragile items. Once you get to your new location and unpack, bag them up and ship them off to a new home or recycling center.
Electronic Components: Several big box stores such as Staples, Best Buy, etc., are happy to accept your broken and outdated electronic components for recycling.
Hazardous Materials: Most cities have a special day where you can bring in old paint, poisons and other toxic materials we don't want going down our sewers. Check on your city's web page for dates and places when you can take in these items.
Green Services: When hiring movers, check first to see if they have an environmental commitment policy posted on their website or if their listed as members of Earth Mom. Be sure to read about the steps they take in their everyday business practices to truly show their commitment to the environment. Be sure to let them know that their time and attention regarding environmental matters was a big decision in choosing their services.
Packing Materials: When buying boxes and packing materials, try to insure all your supplies are fully recyclable and after your move, recycle them again or better yet donate them to others who are planning a move.
Bubble Wrap: Bubble wrap is a great item for helping insure your valuable belongings get from one place safely to another. Wadded newspaper can many times take the place of bubble wrap which rarely gets recycled. If you must use bubble wrap, box it all up and store it for your next move or donate it to someone who is preparing to move. Bubble wrap will last for many uses unless someone comes along that likes to pop the bubbles. Then it becomes an environmental problem as it can last hundreds of years in a land fill.
Return Junk Mail: Save all the junk mail that gets through. When you get prepaid envelopes as part of any junk mail, simply stuff as much junk as you can back into the envelope. Be sure to include a note asking that company to take you off their list. Since these companies pay the return postage, they're more likely to take note and stop sending you more junk.
Junk Mail: Stop junk mail from getting delivered by notifying your mail delivery person or by registering online with the relevant agency. You might not stop all the junk from getting through, but you'll cut back back on a lot of it.
Home Recycling Center: Set up a recycling center in your kitchen or garage 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.
Less is More: Think hard before buying items that are going to hang around for several years. Most people move on average of every 5 years. When shopping for non-essential items, be sure to ask yourself a simple question: When the times comes to move again, will you relish the idea of moving it?
Plastic Bins & Containers: Avoid boxes altogether. Plastic containers are tough and will outlast corrugated boxes several times over. They're easy to use, label and can store your items for later access. Once emptied, they can easily be resold, loaned out or borrowed again from others who will find them handy for moving their households.
Examine your belongings: A move is a great time to take a hard look at all you've accumulated and determine if you would be better off donating it to a place that could make good use of it. Daycare centers and preschools are especially good places to donate toys, books and clothing that your children may have outgrown. Goodwill, St. Vincent De Paul and other places will even give you a tax donation certificate.