Lighten Your Load on Moving Day
by Sophia Zhou

Canadians are on the move as never before. Strong real estate sales have seen record numbers of people purchase homes. In 2002, for example, an estimated 472,886 households bought property*. Many more relocate each year to go to school or to find work, and others move to experience a different neighbourhood or part of the country. In the process of moving, people often spend more than necessary and leave in their wake piles of trash and trails of chemicals and gas fumes. The next time you move, keep these tips in mind to save you money, reduce the environmental impact, and lighten your load for moving day. * According to Statistics Canada

Moving is the one occasion when we delve into the depths of our closets, basements, storage lockers, and sheds to clean out heaps of unwanted items such as old toys, clothing, books, paint, scrap wood, and more. The motivation is simple: it is far easier to get rid of these items than it is to pack them up and move them to our new homes. This is particularly true for long distance moves, which are typically priced based on weight and volume.

If you have lived in the same home for years, you've likely accumulated many items. As you sort through your belongings, separate them into different piles. To make the process more efficient, use the time management technique of dealing with each item only once as you decide what you will keep and what you will discard. Sort the items you plan to discard based on how you plan to dispose of them. For example, one pile may be recyclables such as glass and plastic, one pile may be items that require special disposal such as paint and paint thinner, another would be items for donation, and a last pile may be possessions that you plan to sell.

Recyclables
Most municipalities have recycling programs to collect glass, plastic (1, 2 and 5), aluminum, tin, newsprint and mixed paper. There may also be some special recycling programs in your area to collect furniture, appliances and other large items. Check with your local government for details.

Special Disposal
In many communities, it is illegal to dispose of motor oil, pesticides, old car batteries and other hazardous items in the household garbage. These toxic, flammable, and/or corrosive products pose a danger to the garbage collectors and the environment. Check with your municipal government for information on drop-off sites and periodic collection days for safe recycling or disposal of these products:

• Used motor oils
• Antifreeze
• Old car batteries
• Pesticides
• Leftover paints, stains, and varnishes
• Art and photographic supplies
• Cleaning supplies

Donation
Friends, family and neighbours are often happy to take your old belongings off your hands! Of course, even they have a limit to how much they want and need. Consider donating. Doing so will make you feel good and may provide you with a charitable tax deduction.

• Computers: It can be very dangerous to throw away CRT monitors because each monitor contains a kilogram or more of lead (a toxic metal) for optical clarity and radiation protection. A better solution would be to donate your old computer to a school, library, or community centre. These organizations may be able to issue you a tax receipt for your charitable donation. If you cannot find a place to donate your computer, check your local yellow pages for a computer equipment recycler.

• Food items: Most of us try to use up our groceries before a move, however, it's not uncommon to end up with extra canned goods, and staples such as flour, pasta, potatoes, etc. You may find it less expensive in many cases to simply purchase these items afresh at your new home rather than transporting them. Consider donating canned and dry goods to local shelters and food banks.

• Clothing: As a good rule of thumb, if you haven't worn a particular piece of clothing within the past two years, chances are you won't wear it in the future. Take this opportunity to do a closet purge especially if you are moving to a smaller home. Consider selling newer items to a consignment store and donating the rest to a local shelter or charitable organization such as the Salvation Army.

Selling items
Planning and preparation are essential to successfully selling your possessions. The growing popularity of purchasing second-hand items and the increasing numbers of shops that specialize in selling clothing, home appliances, or even iron garden gates, make it easier than ever to find buyers for your possessions. Allow a few months for the store to sell the item and process your payment. Bookstores are one exception-they typically will pay you for your books upfront.

A garage sale is the tried and true method for selling household items. You are sure to learn a thing or two about haggling as you make some money on a Saturday. Large garage sales with a good selection are the most popular with buyers, so consider inviting your friends and neighbours to participate.

Other Tips
Once you've pared down your possessions, you will need to box and wrap up what's left. Consider these tips from the Environmental Protection Agency:

• Don't buy new boxes. Visit grocery and liquor stores during the beginning or the middle of the month and ask for leftover shipping boxes.

• If you must purchase new boxes, buy corrugated boxes with the highest recycled content you can find.

• Pack clothing, linens, and other items in suitcases or duffel bags that you already own.

• Some moving companies will allow you to rent reusable storage crates. These crates have a life expectancy of 10 years and are also recyclable at the end of their useful life.

• Instead of using new sheets of packing paper, use old newspapers to wrap fragile items.

• Consider using environmentally preferable packing materials such as cushioning peanuts made of biodegradable cornstarch and bubble wrap containing post-consumer recycled plastic.

• Where possible use biodegradable cleaners for counters, floors and carpets.

By lightening your load on moving day, you can help local charities, recoup some of your costs by selling items, and reduce the time and expense involved in moving. An added benefit is that with fewer items to transport and unpack, you'll be able to finish your move and start enjoying your new home that much sooner!