Free Boxes?

[mst]

We are moving, and I was hoping to get free boxes. My DH is an environmental freak, and would be really pysched if we could do this.

Anyone have suggestions? I tried the grocery store yesterday, but they destory their boxes. I checked Craig's List. I know that there must be people moving in that are getting rid of boxes, but how do I get hooked up with them?

TIA!

[Gumbeaux]

Large grocery and department stores often crush and bale cardboard boxes and then sell them to recyclers. Try looking for boxes behind smaller stores such as dollar stores and liquor stores. They usually don't crush them.

[lindrusso]

The retail stores in the mall break down their boxes so that the mall custodians can haul them away at night. Maybe you could ask a local retail store to hold some of these boxes for you? I'd call around and ask - maybe someone would be willing.

I was appalled at the HUGE pile of garbage our move created. The company moved us and they use A LOT of packing materials. We had a mountain or two in our garage! The moving company did come and pick up our garbage mountains.....I so hope that they recycled everything......... :eek:

Good luck with your move. :)

[jadenegro]

We've moved a lot and the most luck I've had getting boxes has been at liquor stores. If you go in and ask, they can tell you which days of the week they unpack the most booze and they may offer to save them for you. You new neighbors may think you're a real whino but we all make sacrifices sometimes!

The other successful things I did was ask at work -- the boxes that hold the 9x 13 inch paper are sturdy and really good for moving. Your workplace may generate more boxes for other things depending.

Also you can send a mass email to friends and offer to pick up any old boxes they have sitting in the basement/garage from them.

[ErinM]

I've gotten a fair amount of boxes from the places I've worked at. Just ask your mail/shipping department.

[blazedog]

Try Craigs list as you mentioned and also put in an ad of course.

You might have more luck buying USED moving boxes since you indicate your husband is interestered in ecology rather than just saving money. For example, last month my neighbor was trying to get rid of a huge number of boxes -- I don't know what ultimately happened to them. I do know that my friends who have moved and have garages tend to flatten the boxes and store them in their garage space because the boxes are quite expensive and don't take up that much space when stored.

The great thing about actual moving boxes is that they are the right size and strength for various things whereas boxes from (for example) liquor stores are limited in size. For example, the dish pack boxes and wardrobe boxes are quite different than standard boxes.

[Robyn1007]

I have moved MANY times in the last 12 years and finally got so sick and tired of gathering boxes that I actually use rubbermaid containers to move the vast majority of my things now. I buy a few more every time I move and then fill in with cardboard boxes and use large garbage bags for my clothes. I was really thankful I had used this method when I moved from VA to CO because the pod company dropped my pod :eek: and amazingly everything survived due to my packing system. I find that if I always buy the same kind they stack easily and will stack inside each other for storage.

[KristiB]

I used to manage a boutique in a strip mall and we gave boxes to anyone who asked. And a lot of people do!

I've moved a lot and also buy the Rubbermaid totes. They're great!

[hollysmom]

Freecycle - a Yahoo group specific to your area. Google Freecycle and your town.

SSM

[AZgal]

Also try your local hospital. I work in a hospital and each time we've moved, that's where I got most of my boxes. However, I do agree with blazedog that it's worth it to purchase some special moving boxes for certain items. The boxes I got from the hospital were great for large bulky items (linens, etc.) but for packing my better china and glassware I used special boxes.

[kim21]

Oh my! I am wading through the sea of boxes and packaging materials as we speak! We were moved via a relocation company and our belongings were delivered yesterday. The moving company will come and retrieve these materials once we have unpacked.

Let us know where you live and perhaps someone on the board is in the midst of unpacking...and unpacking...and unpacking...:eek:

You might even try calling one of the national moving firms in your area and ask if the "used" boxes etc are available.

Best wishes, Kim

[DanaSD]

We are moving, and I was hoping to get free boxes. My DH is an environmental freak, and would be really pysched if we could do this.

Anyone have suggestions? I tried the grocery store yesterday, but they destory their boxes. I checked Craig's List. I know that there must be people moving in that are getting rid of boxes, but how do I get hooked up with them?

TIA!

we drove around on recycling day and collected boxes in our neighborhood. We got tons that way. Post a notice on Craigs List and freecycle.com. Also check with grocery stores - they'll save you the fruit boxes which work great.

Also, let everyone know you need boxes - they can get them from their workplaces if they ask their janitor or receiving department know to save them.

you're moving? thats exciting!

[Canice]

I second the Freecycle (http://www.freecycle.org/) recommendation; people are always offering up boxes there. Or at least they were when I was subscribed to my local postings.

[RhapsodyRose]

You can always find a Southern Living at Home Rep. (or 2) in your area. Their Hostesses receive the orders in large, wonderful boxes. And many individual items are packaged in a box. The Hostesses are often looking for a way to dispose of the boxes instead of filling their garbage can up with them and may be more than happy to have you take them. I have provided many boxes for just such a purpose.
www.southernlivingathome.com

Tamara

[AdGirl]

i just moved and didn't have much luck finding boxes for free (but good luck to you!)

i ended up buying boxes off of usedcardboardboxes.com -- it was a lot cheaper than buying new boxes and they deliver the whole thing to your house for free.

good luck!

[cangoss]

If you don't find used boxes, and still want to be environmentally responsible, you might try renting plastic crates. We did that for an office move and it was great - no rolls of tape and boxes to assemble (or break down), and the company came and picked them up after we were done with them.
I think this is the company we used, but I'm not sure since I wasn't in charge of it: http://www.rentacrate.com/

[Sookie]

When we moved we went to a moving company (not one we had hired, since we moved ourselves) and they just give away used moving boxes to anyone who wants them, no questions asked. We got a ton of really nice-sized boxes from that company for free.

[RunnerKim]

I've been planning a move for awhile and have been collecting paper boxes at my office. So maybe check with a Kinko's or some type of copy/print shop that would use a lot of paper.

Kim