Non-Allowable Items

Non-Allowable Items

Non-allowable is a term used within the moving industry for items that cannot be transported by professional movers. If you are planning or considering to use a moving company for your relocation, here is a list of items the moving company will not transport. Any company you hire should provide you with a list of "non-allowables". This will help to ensure nothing considered hazardous gets packed without you knowing.

Hazardous

A hazardous item is one that is considered flammable, corrosive or explosive. Some of the items listed, are things we use regularly and may not be aware that they are even hazardous.

If you are moving yourself with your own transport, you may be considering to move some of these items in your vehicle. If the move is local, within the same city or state, it can be done. Ensure that the items are packed appropriately and will not be exposed to extreme heat or direct sun. Moving long distance, even when using your own transport, it is not advisable to transport any hazardous items.

List Of Hazardous Items

• Acids
• Aerosols
• Ammonia
• Ammunition
• Car batteries
• Charcoal
• Charcoal lighter fluid
• Chemistry sets
• Cleaning solvents
• Darkroom chemicals
• Fertilizer
• Fire extinguisher
• Fireworks
• Gasoline
• Household batteries
• Kerosene
• Lamp oil
• Liquid bleach
• Loaded guns
• Matches
• Motor oil
• Nail polish
• Nail polish remover
• Paint thinner
• Paints
• Pesticides
• Poisons
• Pool chemicals
• Propane tanks
• Reloading supplies
• SCUBA tanks
• Sterno
• Video game consoles
• Weed killer

Friends and family, or local industries will be happy to take some of the non-allowable items. Many of them can also be recycled. For example, old aerosol can’s can be taken to your local Household Hazardous Waste Collection site.

Here is an excellent resource on how to recycle most of our day-to-day items that cannot be transported with a moving company.

Any unwanted item that cannot be recycled will need to be disposed of. Contact your city or county, local hazardous materials recycler, fire department, or the closest branch of the Environmental Protection Agency for information on where and how to properly dispose of these items.

Perishables

Professional moving companies cannot move perishable items. Over a short period of time, these items may attract pests and rats. Therefore, they should be disposed of prior to the move. If you are moving locally, perishable items can be packed, and items that need refrigeration can be placed in a cooler for the duration of the journey. Perishable items include:

• Frozen foods
• Produce
• Open food products

Personal Items

Items of value, either personal, sentimental or irreplaceable cannot be moved by professional moving companies. It is advisable to have these items close to you during the moving process. These may include:

• Cash
• Credit cards
• Personal documents
• Marriage license
• Passports
• Car documents
• Insurance documents
• Financial records
• Birth certificates
• Wills
• Insurance documents
• Social Security
• Medical records
• Deeds
• Bank records
• Photographs
• Jewelry
• Electronic devices
• Cell phone
• Laptop
• External hard drives
• Keys
• Medicines
• Collections

Firearms

If you plan on moving any firearms in your vehicle, you will need to inform yourself of state regulations. Each state has its own laws and you will need to be prepared for each state you pass through. If you prefer to have your firearms shipped, it can be done through a federally licensed firearms dealer.

Plants And Pets

Pets cannot be moved using a professional moving company and most movers will not move your plants. Read more about moving and packing your plants as well as Moving with Pets.

Leaving behind many of these non-allowable items may be the beginning of understanding how to do things differently and live more sustainably.