Moving requires throwing out loads of garbage, buying packing materials, and fueling trucks—none of which are good news for the environment.
When you’re decluttering, keep in mind that the United States generates around 292.4 million tons of trash in a year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Of those tons, 146.1 million end up in landfills. Meanwhile, the items people take with them are often protected with bubble wrap and packing peanuts, which can’t be put in traditional curbside recycling bins.
Transporting your belongings from your old home to your new one is a huge contributor to pollution, as it requires burning fossil fuels. According to the EPA, transportation produced 28% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2021—making it the largest contributor of emissions that year. Medium- and heavy-duty trucks—the types of vehicles most movers use—accounted for 23% of all transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, making them the second-largest source next to light-duty trucks such as SUVs and minivans.