Moving generates mountains of cardboard. A typical apartment move can use dozens of boxes, plus rolls of packing paper, bubble wrap and tape. After the truck is unloaded, most of those supplies end up flattened in the recycling bin, often in perfectly good shape. Meanwhile, neighbors preparing for their own moves later in the fall are buying new boxes. A moving box relay closes that loop. Boxes and supplies get passed from household to household, saving money, reducing waste and connecting neighbors along the way.
Why Reuse Boxes?
- Save money. New moving boxes add up quickly, especially for larger moves.
- Reduce waste. Reusing boxes keeps them in circulation longer before recycling.
- Save time. Neighbors who reuse boxes skip a trip to the store.
- Build connections. Passing boxes is an easy excuse to meet the people on your block.
What to Pass Along
Good candidates for a box relay include:
- Sturdy moving boxes in small, medium and large sizes
- Wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes
- Dish pack boxes with dividers
- Clean packing paper and newsprint
- Bubble wrap, foam sheets and air pillows
- Reusable plastic bins, if you no longer need them
- Partially used rolls of packing tape
- Furniture blankets or pads
Skip boxes that are wet, moldy, torn, crushed or that previously held food, chemicals or anything with strong odors. Also avoid boxes from homes with pest problems, such as bed bugs or cockroaches, to prevent spreading them.
Prepare Boxes for the Next Person
A little prep makes boxes much more useful.
- Remove old tape where possible, or at least trim loose ends.
- Cross out old labels with a thick marker so the next person is not confused.
- Flatten boxes carefully along the seams to preserve their structure.
- Sort by size and bundle with string or a strip of tape.
- Bag packing materials together, such as one bag of paper and one bag of bubble wrap.
- Store them somewhere dry, such as a closet, hallway or covered porch, until someone claims them.
Spreading the Word
Box relays work best when everyone on the block knows they exist.
- Post in building or neighborhood group chats: “Have 20 flattened moving boxes, mixed sizes, plus a bag of packing paper. Free to anyone moving soon. Pickup at our porch this week.”
- Set up a simple shared list or sign-up sheet where people can post what they have and what they need.
- Put a small sign on a building bulletin board.
- Tell neighbors you know are planning moves later in the year.
Some blocks designate one dry storage spot, such as a basement corner or garage, as a shared box exchange, with permission from the owner.
Running a Box Exchange Day
If several households are finishing moves around the same time, consider a box exchange day.
- Choose a weekend morning in early September.
- Set up in a driveway, courtyard or community space with permission.
- Organize boxes by size, with packing materials in separate bins.
- Invite anyone moving in the fall, including students and families.
- Recycle any boxes that are too damaged to reuse at the end of the day.
Keep sidewalks clear and pick up all remaining materials the same day. A few volunteers with box cutters and tape can quickly reassemble boxes on request for neighbors who want to start packing right away.
Recycle Responsibly When Boxes Are Done
Eventually, every box reaches the end of its useful life. When that happens:
- Flatten cardboard so it fits in recycling bins.
- Follow your city’s recycling rules, including what to do with extra cardboard on high-volume weeks. Many cities have guidance for large amounts during moving season.
- Keep cardboard dry. Wet, soggy cardboard is harder to recycle.
- Remove packing peanuts and foam, which usually do not belong in curbside recycling. Some shipping stores accept clean packing peanuts for reuse.
- Do not bag recyclables in plastic unless your city specifically instructs it.
- Check plastic film and bubble wrap rules, since many curbside programs do not accept them, although some retail drop-off programs do.
Help Neighbors Who Need It Most
A box relay can quietly help neighbors who may not have the budget or transportation to buy supplies.
- Offer boxes and packing materials directly to neighbors you know are moving, including older adults downsizing.
- Offer to drop off boxes for neighbors without a car.
- Pair boxes with an offer to help pack or carry, if you are able.
Keep the Relay Going All Year
While September 1 is the busiest moving day in Boston, people move year-round. Keep a modest stash of flattened boxes and packing materials in a dry place, and post occasional reminders in your block group. Encourage everyone who receives boxes to pass them on when they are done.
Box Relay Checklist
- Boxes inspected, cleaned of old tape and labels crossed out
- Boxes flattened, sorted by size and bundled
- Packing materials bagged separately
- Dry storage spot identified
- Availability posted in group chats or on a bulletin board
- Exchange day considered for early September
- Damaged boxes recycled according to city rules
A cardboard box might seem like the humblest thing to share, but passing it along is a small act of neighborliness. Somewhere down the block, a newcomer is about to pack up their life, and your old boxes might be just what they need.
Quick check: Which boxes should be left out of a box relay?
- Sturdy boxes with old labels crossed out
- Flattened dish pack boxes with dividers
- Boxes that are damp or came from a home with a pest problem
Show answer
C. Damp boxes weaken and can grow mold, and boxes from pest-affected homes can spread pests.
