Moving apartments can be stressful but it doesn’t have to be wasteful.
Proactively ask your landlord for a waste free move out
“Can I be connected to the next set of tenants so I can see if they want some my furniture? It fits so perfectly in the apartment, it would be wonderful if it could stay”
“I would love to leave items like hangers and cleaning supplies behind in the apartment when I move out so they aren’t thrown away in the trash. Could we connect about possible ways to make this move out sustainable and also helpful for the next set of tenants?”
Plan where your unwanted items will go
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Preserve It
Keeping items in as good condition as possible makes dealing with them later much easier. Mattresses for example are near impossible to donate and they don’t move easily. Adding a mattress protector preserves your mattress and makes it more appealing to buyers if you choose to sell it. Landlords will be more willing to allow tenants to leave items behind if they are in good condition. And if you want to give your stuff away or sell, it will be much easier to do if you keep your items clean!
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Leave It
You are leaving the apartment but new people will be moving in. Connect with the new tenants and see what items they want. Less moving for everyone! Speak with your landlord about useful items that can stay in the apartment like hangers, cleaning supplies, and trash cans. Less work for landlords and tenants and by leaving useful items in the apartment, less waste in the landfill.
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Sell or Gift It
Items sold or gifted within the community help everyone. Giving items directly to people who want them is best. This keeps each item out of the trash for the longest period of time. Post on your Buy Nothing group and other local sites. Sell items on Facebook Marketplace. Even imperfect items have a lot more life in them!
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Donate It
Donating items to organizations can benefit everyone. Research which organizations take what items and choose carefully. Many large nonprofits end up throwing away many of their donations. Contact the organizations and make sure your donations will be put to use. Good rule of thumb is if you wouldn’t give the item to your most judge mental friend, don’t donate it. Don’t donate trash.
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Swap it
Weeding your garden of things allows it to grow! Gather your unwanted items and have a swap with your friends. Clothing swaps are a fun excuse to get together. Swap kitchen gadgets you swore you would use and never did. Have a Buy Nothing holiday where everyone exchanges items that no longer bring them joy. Offer a Free Table in front of your home on a weekend. Swapping instead of buying new is a wonderful way to make sure the items you have around you are used.
What can I do?
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Reach out to your landlord about the move out process. Ask if you could be put in touch with the tenants moving in to see if they would like any of the items in the apartment. See if your landlord would be open to small items like hangers and such being left in the apartment. Selling your items to new tenants is a win win for everyone and makes the moving process much easier. Leave items clearly marked and away from walls so that the apartment can be inspected upon move out.
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Give yourself lots of time to distribute items because it always takes longer than you anticipate. Group items to Sell, Swap, and Give Away. When items go to an individual who wanted them, they are more likely to stay out of a landfill longer. Connect with your neighbors and give your items to homes that want them.
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Contact local charities and see what items they really need. Only donate items that are in good condition, don’t donate trash. Organizations which help the homeless, domestic violence victims, and immigrants sometimes are more willing to take items which can immediately be used like personal care items.
