Moving Out,
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~~lf™' HI "!|F" hether you are downsizing from
!!, II 1| II a large home you've lived in your
=111 1||| whole life to a smaller condominium,
= if or moving to a different city, moving
can be stressful, time-consuming, and expensive—and
can have a great impact on the environment. Throwing
away old items and buying new ones can generate a
lot of trash waste natural resources and energy.
Although throwing away all the old, unwanted items
you have accumulated over the years might seem
easier, there are safer, more environmentally friendly
ways to get rid of these items. By taking a few extra
steps, you can save money, help others, and have a
positive impact on the environment.
This guide suggests environmentally safe alternatives
to throwing away unwanted "junk" and shows you how
to purchase new items with the environment in mind.
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As you sort through your belongings and decide what you don't
want to take with you, you will most likely run across items that have
been stored in your home for some time—old toys, clothing, antiques,
scrap wood, old tires, gardening equipment, automotive supplies,
and other household items. Take a moment to separate those items
into defined groups on how you plan to dispose of them.
For example, one group might be items that are in working order
and can be reused by someone another group might be things
that can be recycled in your community; and a third group of items
might require special disposal, such as bulky items or hazardous
chemicals. See the following sections on how to identify items for
reuse, recycling, and special disposal.
! When you move, many items in your home can be
i reused either by you or someone else. Friends, family,
or local charities might be interested in the items you no longer
want. Charitable donations are often tax-deductible. Options for
reuse include:
13 Donating books to your local school, library, or community center
ii Donating furniture and other household goods to local charities
ii Holding a yard sale so others can purchase and reuse your old
belongings, such as old toys, tools, or household supplies
=i Cleaning and selling unwanted antiques to a resale or antique
shop or having an antiques dealer come to your home
=3 Donating large items, such as computers or cars, to local charities
ii Donating food items to food banks or local shelters
ii Reusing packing material, such as bubblewrap, bags, and boxes
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Many of the items you clean out from your home might
be recyclable in your community curbside or drop-off
recycling program. To determine what materials you
can recycle, contact your local solid waste or
environmental agency. Common recyclables include:
Newspapers
Mixed paper or white paper
Aluminum cans
Plastic bottles and jugs
Steel cans
Cardboard
Some items might be collected for recycling at other locations near you;
for example:
Plastic grocery bags are often collected for recycling
at local grocery stores
Used computers, cell phones, and other electronics
are often collected for recycling at electronics stores,
school vocational programs, or by municipal
governments
Bulky items, such as refrigerators and sofas, can
often be picked up by your municipality with
a special request
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You might own some common household
products, such as cleaners, paints, and pesticides,
that are hazardous to the environment and your
health if disposed of improperly. These items
contain substances that are toxic, ignitable, cor-
rosive, or reactive and could pose health and
environmental risks if disposed of in your
regular household garbage. Many communities offer special drop-
off sites or periodic collection days for safe recycling or disposal of
these products. Common examples include:
ii Used motor oils
= Antifreeze
ii Old car batteries
i Pesticides
i Leftover paints, stains, and varnishes
si Art and photographic supplies
Cleaning supplies
Although some communities do not require you fl ^
to separate these items from your regular trash,
it is important to safely dispose of them. Check
with your local solid waste agency to find out
about safe management or disposal options in
your community.
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In your new home, you may no longer to own equipment
as lawnmowers and chainsaws. might
contain oil or away could be harmful to the
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for time and be old and dirty.
Taking the time to items to
find a proper way to get rid of them is safer for
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to in their old
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Contact your local or enwlronmental
to inquire programs.
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As you are settling into your new home, you
may realize that there are some new items
you need. When purchasing items to stock
your new home, take the time to consider
whether you really need to buy everything
brand new, and whether you need to pur-
chase certain items at all. When you do go
shopping, you can help protect the environ-
ment by selecting products that have a mini-
mal impact on the environment, including
those with reduced packaging or recycled
content and those with less toxic ingredients.
t -,r«^ You can reduce the amount of waste you
generate in the long run by carefully
considering what you buy and how you use items around
your home. When deciding what items you might need for
your new home, consider whether you can rent, borrow, or
share items with family, friends, and neigh-
bors instead of purchasing them. Also consid-
er options for buying durable and reusable
products rather than disposable ones or
products that contain minimal packaging,
such as concentrated items or items in bulk.
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Options for buying less include;
« Purchasing and using cloth napkins and towels instead
of disposable ones
« Forgoing and using sturdy,
washable ones for large gatherings
• Buying products in bulk, in concentrate, or in refillable
containers
• Using rechargeable batteries
• Using cloth grocery instead of paper or plastic
* Avoiding products with packaging material
• Sharing newspapers and magazines with friends and
family
« Renting or borrowing items such as tools, ladders,
and rug cleaners
• Performing routine maintenance on large appliances to
extend their usable life
* Purchasing low-energy fluorescent light bulbs that last
longer
« Purchasing ENERGY STAR® —such as —
that provide superior energy efficiency
Environmentally friendly
products include those
that contain
materials as well as less toxic alternatives. By buying
containing recycled materials, you are to "close the
recycling loop," which means you are supporting the products
and markets that use the materials others have recycled.
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Examples of products containing recycled-
content materials include:
i Paper products (notepads, tissues, paper
towels, computer paper)
ii Plastic products (fleece jackets, landscape
materials, trash bags)
s Personal products (t-shirts, brushes)
ii Home products (carpet, trash bags, storage
bins, furniture, appliances)
ii Home repair products (recycled-content siding,
recycled-content asphalt/felt or aluminum roofing
shingles, wallboard, ceiling tiles, doors)
i! Lawn and garden materials (bird feeders, landscape timbers,
planters, garden hoses)
« Automotive products (car parts, ice scrapers, oil pans)
You can reduce the amount of household hazardous waste
you generate by using less toxic alternatives in your home.
Such alternatives include:
• Natural pesticides or alternative products that achieve
the same results „ - : -
li Natural or less toxic cleaning products such as
citrus-based cleaners
i! Non-toxic inks and art supplies for children
ii Natural alternatives to mothballs
i! Natural alternatives to pet products such as
flea and tick remedies
ii Pump spray personal products instead
of aerosol
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-
www.donateacar.com
Contains information and links to car donation resources.
of -
www.arcainc.com
Contains information and statistics on appliance recycling.
• of -
www.aham.org/aric/aric.cfmttinformation
Contains information on appliance recycling.
a - www.earth911.org or 1-800-Cleanup
Useful resource containing information on environmental
issues, along with information on community recycling
and reuse.
ii - www.eiae.org
The Consumer Education Initiative provides information
on national and local recycling and reuse programs.
3 -
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non^hw/muncpl/recpubs.htm
•
-
www.nrc-recycle.org/resources/resources.htm
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York of
- www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dshm/redrecy
Contains information and publications on a wide variety
of solid waste topics.
-
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/reduce.htm
EPA Web site dedicated to providing information on how
to produce less waste by practicing the 3 Rs.
- To
- www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/plugin/index.htm
Provides information on opportunities to reuse and recycle
old computers, televisions, and cell phones. Web site
includes links to collections events.
- www.epa.gov/epaoswer/
non^hw/reduce/catbook.htm
-
www.crbt.org
Dedicated to promoting environmentally responsible
construction practices, contains information on recycled-
content building products and environmental building
technologies.
- www.epa.gov/oppt/epp
Includes a database of environmental information for
products and services. Contains information on household
items that can be purchased.
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