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Products that are hazardous, such as aerosol sprays, top the list of what to leave behind during a move. Avoid packing perishables, garden and garage chemicals, pool supplies, compressed gases, and combustible items. If you are trying to move by yourself, you may want to downsize so you have fewer belongings to pack and move (and then unpack).

When considering how to dispose of other appliances, a landfill is also usually not an option. The biggest difference is that electrical appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, or dishwashers aren’t as easy to transport as a portable microwave. Some local councils offer bulky uplift services (although a fee may apply), scrap metal recyclers might pick yours up, trade-in options on big items are more common, and some utility companies offer incentivized recycling programs.

There are several things to avoid packing into your storage container to reduce the risk of damage or danger. This includes weapons, ammunition, and combustible, flammable, or toxic items, such as gasoline, fireworks, or chemicals. Perishable items, such as plants or food (except for canned goods), are also a no-go, as are damp goods.

The only packing material that isn’t often recyclable is rubber, but rubber bands aren’t common for packing and moving. Some materials used for moving, like cardboard, paper, and hard plastic, are easy to recycle and can often just go out for regular pickup with your other recyclables, like cans and bottles. Plastic films and packing peanuts can be a bit more difficult to recycle and usually need to go to a dedicated recycling facility that can handle those specific materials.