How to Reduce Moving Waste with Landfill Avoidance

Companies that relocate produce a significant amount of waste. Reducing moving waste prevents businesses from contributing to landfills. Implementing various methods of landfill diversion is key to protecting the environment. Here are five ways businesses can reduce their moving waste.

What is landfill diversion?

Landfill diversion is the effort to minimize sending waste into landfills. While on the surface landfills appear to keep the environment clean, they actually degrade local water, soil, and plant systems. Plus, keeping copious amounts of waste out of landfills delays the need to create new ones.

Once products are sent to a landfill, their utility is complete—they can never be used again. The natural resources and energy directed into producing those products are wasted. But recycling materials that have reached their useful end creates further value.

Landfills are filled with plastics and harmful chemicals. Rainwater that falls into the landfills draws out these chemicals, creating a toxic soup that seeps into groundwater and contaminates it. Landfills are also major sources of greenhouse gases, which pose risks to humans and animals.

What types of moving waste do companies produce?

Businesses on the move leave behind significant waste. Office furniture, consisting of wood, metal, foam, and plastic, releases toxic substances when left in landfills. Technology waste contains hazardous materials, such as mercury, lead, and cadmium, which can harm the environment.

Companies handle various paper documents, such as agreements and contracts. Paper waste accounts for 26 percent of total waste in landfills and contributes to deforestation. Plastic waste, like bins, storage compartments, and packing materials, takes years to decompose when discarded.

How do companies reduce moving waste with landfill avoidance?

When a corporate relocation is on the horizon, businesses are urged to avoid sending office products to the landfill. Business owners and managers should make a conscious effort to practice landfill avoidance and mitigate the harmful environmental impact of the move.

1. Use Sustainable Supplies

Opting for reusable crates and pallets reduces waste during an office move. Plastic bins are alternatives to cardboard boxes; moving companies drop them off ahead of the move and pick them up after employees unpack. Use recycled packing materials, like cardboard boxes, which are less expensive than ones bought new. Both these tactics save companies money and avoid sending more waste into landfills.

Reusable bubble wrap is a sustainable packing option that can be used on multiple moves. One version of such is Comp-U-Wrap, which is used for packing computer equipment & peripherals.

2. Donate

Rather than contribute to the 17 billion pounds of office assets in landfills, donate furniture and equipment that are in good condition to charities or organizations in need. Habitat for Humanity and Goodwill may take certain items; be sure to call ahead to check and coordinate the logistics.

3. Sell Items

Businesses might consider selling their used office furniture to companies that buy, disassemble, and remove them. Small start-ups, in this way, are able to obtain the furniture they need at affordable prices. Selling furniture prevents the items from unnecessarily piling up in landfills.

4. Recycle

Recycle paper waste and cardboard once the relocation is complete. Large quantities of paper can usually be recycled through the city’s recycling program. Contact the local public work’s department for locations of receptacles or hire a company to haul away recyclable items.

5. Downsize

While moving less items is good for the company’s budget, it also has a positive effect on the environment. Assess the goods in the office and eliminate unnecessary items. Inventory management ensures only the essential office items are transported to the new location.

Companies can practice sustainability well before and after a move. For instance, instead of producing mass amounts of paper waste, move to digital documentation. Digitized documents save paper and reduce the business’s environmental footprint. Alternatively, use recycled paper or print on both sides.

Consider opting for eco-friendly technology to reduce technology waste. Eco-friendly technology equipment, such as printers and scanners, is manufactured with sustainable materials and energy-efficient. Eco-friendly copiers are designed to use less energy while operating and emit low levels of harmful chemicals.

Invest in eco-friendly furniture to minimize the impact on the environment. This type of furniture is made from eco-friendly materials, such as natural fibers (organic cotton, jute, or hemp) used in the upholstery. Office desks and chairs, for instance, may be sustainably sourced.

The environmental impact of a corporate relocation is significant. But companies can minimize waste and avoid landfills with the right practices, like those above. Audit the move’s environmental impact beforehand, considering the transportation methods and volume of items to prioritize sustainability.

When a sustainable corporate move is desired, choose Chicago Office Movers. As a comprehensive commercial moving service, we’ll start by helping you plan a sustainable relocation that minimizes adding waste to landfills. We support the use eco-friendly practices.

Our moving crews are licensed, trained, and background-checked to give businesses confidence as we handle secure and fragile items. We rely on advanced equipment to safely load and unload your goods, from bulky office furniture to sensitive electronics and pricey antiques.

We offer convenient services to cover all your relocation needs. Our valued customers have access to short- and long-term storage, paperwork storage options, and boxes and crates that protect your items.

Chicago Office Movers is prepared to relocate your business locally, long-distance, or internationally. You receive tracking information, allowing you to track the progress of your move. Expect us to expertly handle every phase of the office move.

When you seek an affordable, environmentally-conscious and efficient office mover, contact Chicago Office Movers in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Our service is the top choice for major Chicagoland corporations seeking to minimize company downtime and ensure a successful relocation.

Call us at 312-244-2246 (CHI-CAGO) or fill out a form for a free estimate.