Pushing a mattress in a van, Martie Malone, came to help her daughter move from her apartment in this July 2009 file photo. It was moving day for many students who were heading to a new place or moving home after a summer in Lawrence. by Richard Gwin

No one likes to move. But we shouldn’t make the earth suffer with us. On July 31, a good chunk of Lawrence residents will be in the midst of relocating. To help ease the pain on you and the environment, here are tips on keeping the move cheap, easy and green.

Think outside the new box

Try to find a way around having to buy newly manufactured boxes. Kathy Richardson, the city’s waste reduction and recycling operations supervisor, recommends contacting grocery stores, retail outlets or businesses to see if they have unused, spare boxes. If that doesn’t work, check out Craigslist.org, an online site that has posts from the recently moved-in looking to pass along boxes. Also, be on the look out for neighbors, coworkers or friends who might be moving shortly before you. Ask to use their boxes when they are done. If no spare boxes can be found, consider buying ones that are made of recycled materials or are reused. Among the companies that offer such products is UsedCardboardBoxes.com. U-Haul has a box drop location at all of its company stores and allows customers to trade, sell or buy reusable boxes and moving supplies.

It’s not just cardboard boxes that can be reused. When packing, think about using towels, blankets, newspapers and pillows for cushioning breakable items. It saves you from having to use wasteful bubble wrap and packing peanuts. Also, don’t let suitcases or laundry baskets move unfilled.

When you’re finishing unpacking, see if there are others who could use your boxes or save them if the next move isn’t too far off. At the very least, be sure to recycle the cardboard boxes when you are done.

Sell, donate or give away

Purging goes hand in hand with moving. Many of the items we no longer want can find second homes in places all over Lawrence.

If you are inclined to make a little money and have some extra time, hold a yard sale. You’d be surprised at what people would be willing to pay for.

If you only have a couple of items to sell or give away, post them on CraigsList.org, FreeCycle.org or the Lawrence Journal-World’s classified ad section.

If you don’t want the hassle of selling the items, consider donating them to local charities, who will take everything from clothing to old bookcases. We’ve created a quick cheat sheet, on where your unused items in Lawrence can go to a good cause.

If you don’t have the means of transporting the items, some nonprofits, such as Lawrence Habitat for Humanity ReStore and the Salvation Army Thrift Store, will come to you. Michele Johnson, store manager for the ReStore, said on Fridays and Saturdays the store will pick up unwanted, but still useable furniture and building supplies. The ReStore doesn’t take soft furniture such as couches or mattresses and most small appliances. Items such as shelves, mirrors, lamps, chairs and desks are great donations to make. To schedule a pickup call 856-6920.

As a last resort, consider setting the unwanted items out in the lawn, slightly away from the trash and with a For Free sign on it. This time of year, it’s common to see folks on the prowl for leftover moving items. And, don’t forget to label the item as free, since it’s against the city’s code to rummage through someone else’s trash.

If you have to toss, make sure it goes to the right place

For most of us, moving means having to confront all those demons in the garage or attic, such as half-empty paint cans, used motor oil and pesticides and herbicides. These items don’t belong in landfills and need to go to the city’s hazardous waste facility. To make an appointment to drop the items off call 832-3030.

If you’ve got couches, beds or appliances that you think no one would want even if you gave it away, call the Solid Waste Division to pick them up. The number is 832-3032.

And, once you are done moving, make sure to recycle all the leftover packaging such as cardboard boxes, plastic bags and newspapers. There are several recycling locations throughout the city. You can find a list of them on the city’s web site. Remember you can recycle a lot more than paper, plastic and glass. The city’s list includes places you can take old batteries, computers, electronics and even old tires.

Plan ahead

Giving yourself a couple of weeks to collect boxes, drop off hazardous wastes or hold a yard sale will make it easier to keep your sanity and the earth a better place while moving. Many of the donation and drop off locations aren’t open — or they close earlier on the weekends — when most people move. And, some places have a limit on how much you can drop off, which means you’ll have to come back a second day to unload all your stuff.

“I think sometimes we overwhelm ourselves when we leave it all for the last day. It is a little harder to get out to the thrift stores and run all the errands,” Richardson said.

Use earth-friendly cleaning supplies

Perhaps everyone’s least favorite thing about moving is the scrubbing and washing that has to occur before you turn in the keys. This time around consider using cleaning products that are better for you and the environment. Many of the items you need to clean are already in your kitchen.

Try some of these:

• Baking soda and kosher salt are great for scrubbing away stains and grime.
• Olive oil can be used for dusting.
• Club soda works great on carpet stains.
• Both vinegar and lemon juice act as natural cleaners.

For more information on natural cleaners, check out a story we wrote this spring.