The moment you start unpacking in the new home, you’re going to realize that all your full cardboard boxes are becoming empty one by one and soon enough you’ll be left wondering about what to do with all those empty cardboard boxes.
As you keep unpacking, the empty containers will become a problem not only because they are likely to be scattered everywhere in the new house or apartment but also because there won’t be enough space for them in there. And this means that you’re going to have to make a quick decision about just what to do with them.
Ideally, you will just get rid of all those boxes after moving so that you won’t have to worry about where to store them. But things are never that easy, are they? Even if you decide that you won’t bother keeping any of those cardboard containers, the next logical question is how exactly you are supposed to get rid of them.
So, how to get rid of boxes after moving? Find below all the good options you have regarding your cardboard containers as you keep unpacking in the new home or when you have just completed the unpacking job.
Should you keep your boxes after the move?
Here comes the big question: should you keep your boxes for future use or should you get rid of them all when you’re done unpacking?
To help you make the right decision, here are the pros and cons of keeping your moving boxes after moving to a new home:
Pros of keeping the empty moving boxes
Are you really willing to throw away all the cardboard boxes that took you so much time and effort to gather when you were getting ready to move out?
Here’s why you should NOT get rid of your packing boxes after unpacking:
- You may need the boxes soon enough. You just never know when another move can come around the corner for you. You may not plan to move out anytime soon but plans can change too quickly for your liking. And if circumstances do force you to start preparing for another residential move, then you’re going to need A LOT of boxes once more. So, if you decide to keep all the containers that still look usable, then you’ll be ready to use them as soon as you have to.
- You will save time and money. When the time comes for you to move out again, you won’t need to waste any valuable time and money in search of appropriate cardboard boxes simply because you’ll already have them at your disposal and will be ready to go even if it turns out to be an emergency move.
- You may need boxes for various house projects. It’s a well-known fact that cardboard boxes are very versatile – they can be used for various projects both inside and outside the house. So, by keeping the ones that were not destroyed during the house move, you’ll have easy access to those containers for various needs around the new place.
Read also: How many boxes do you need for a move?
Cons of keeping the empty containers
There are a few drawbacks if you make up your mind to keep the still usable cardboard boxes after the move:
- You will lose time flattening them out. You will need to flatten each box in order to make it as compact as possible for storage. Needless to say, that process will take time, sometimes too much time depending on the number of cartons.
- You will need enough storage space. In fact, this is the greatest disadvantage when you decide to hold on to your moving boxes – do you have enough storage room to keep those boxes for years? If you do, that’s great. If not, you may be forced to get rid of your boxes after moving – see below for your viable options.
See also: How much do moving boxes cost?
How to get rid of cardboard boxes after moving: 8 options
Once you decide that you won’t keep the empty cardboard boxes that are left after you’ve unpacked your stuff – most often due to insufficient storage space in the new home, then follow this thorough checklist that details all your options:
Option 1. SELL your used cardboard boxes on BoxCycle
This is a good option because you should still have plenty of cardboard containers that are good enough to be used again in another house move.
BoxCycle is a website that connects sellers and buyers when it comes to moving boxes – pretty convenient, right? All you have to do is create a listing on the website and set a time for a buyer to come over to pick up the containers.
Keep in mind that if you manage to sell your boxes through the website, you will be charged a small commission for the service.
Option 2. SELL your used moving boxes on Craigslist
Another good option to get rid of cardboard boxes after moving is to list them on Craigslist. It’s not a secret that Craigslist is one of the most popular places online to sell and purchase packing materials – especially used cardboard boxes.
Your best bet for selling your cardboard boxes quickly is when the containers are gently used – strong, dry, and damage-free – and you list them fairly cheaply. Keep in mind that the general idea is to get back some of the money you spent on those packing supplies and not to make a real profit.
Option 3. SELL your second-hand boxes through NextDoor
NextDoor is a social network designed to get you to know your new neighborhood and get you in touch with the people who live around you.
The social network gives you an excellent chance to stay informed about what’s happening in the neighborhood you just moved to… but it also lets you connect with the folks next door and that’s a good opportunity to offer your remaining boxes for sale.
You got nothing to lose – sign up with NextDoor and see if any of your new neighbors might be interested in purchasing your moving boxes.
Option 4. GIVE AWAY your boxes to friends and neighbors
If you wish to get rid of all or most of your cardboard containers fast, then the best way to do it is to offer the packing materials to someone for free. This is a great option when you have moving boxes in good condition and you don’t really feel like making the extra effort to sell them.
The good news is that you will be offering your packing boxes to your friends and neighbors, meaning that you will potentially help out people you know and care about. As you know too well, getting ready to move out is tough so your decision to aid your pals should be met with praise and gratitude.
The easiest way to offer free moving boxes to your friends is to publish a short post on your preferred social media network.
Option 5. GIVE AWAY your boxes to strangers: Craigslist and Freecycle
Another option to get rid of boxes after the move is to offer the still usable packing materials to strangers for free.
Now, while you would like to get back some of your initial investment in the packing supplies you used, it can be a hassle to sell those boxes. Instead, you can do something good for the community and give them away to people who need them without asking anything in return.
And if you also feel like it’s the honorable thing to do, then list the boxes you have on Craigslist or Freecycle, or both. Craigslist does have a Free section while Freecycle is a network where everything on it is offered free of charge.
So, just create free listings on those websites for your cardboard boxes and watch them disappear faster than you can say your own name.
Option 6. RECYCLE your cardboard boxes using your mover
In case the cardboard containers you’re left with after unpacking are not good enough to be reused, then your only option is to recycle those boxes.
How do you recycle boxes after moving? One good way is to ask the moving company you’ve used whether they participate in a recycling program. If yes, you should be able to arrange for them to come over to your place to get the moving boxes you want to recycle. Usually, that service will not cost you any extra money.
However, there are also moving companies that will agree to take all the packing materials you don’t need for a small fee.
Option 7. THROW AWAY your boxes for curbside recycling
What to do with boxes after moving?
If those boxes are only good for one thing – recycling, then the easiest way to recycle your worthless cardboard containers is to throw them into specialized recycling bins on the street to be picked up by waste disposal services in your area.
If you do decide to leave your packing boxes for curbside recycling, be careful to observe all waste removal regulations in your city or town. In most cases, you’ll need to throw away the discarded cardboard boxes into the blue recycle bin – the one designated for paper and cardboard.
Option 8. TAKE your boxes to a recycling center
Still wondering how to dispose of cardboard boxes after moving? Worry not – the option that will always work out great is to take all of your useless moving boxes to a local recycling center for proper disposal.
Of course, you should keep in mind that unless the recycling center is relatively close to where you live, you’ll incur extra expenses for gas and you’ll also lose time in the process. So, weigh the pros and cons of each option and act accordingly.
If you still think that a quick stop at the local recycling center is the way to go, then at least make sure you take all the cardboard you have for recycling in a single trip.
Alternative read: Benefits of using plastic moving boxes
