There are plenty of things to worry a homeowner when they move from one place to another. There's the stress of getting everything packed away, the struggle over whether to leave some items behind, and the worry over how well the boxes marked "Fragile" will survive the trip.

For the environmentally conscious homeowner, there are even more concerns with moving: gas-guzzling trucks, non-biodegradable packing materials, and more.

A person can take certain steps to make sure their move isn't too wasteful. And some movers have also made an effort to reduce their own pollution output as they bring your belongings from Point A to Point B.

Cutting down on your belongings is a good starting point. The fewer things you move, the fewer containers you'll have to use to pack them up. You may even be able to get a smaller truck.

You can get rid of these belongings in a number of sustainable ways. You might donate them to a charitable organization, including places that will have a direct need for them such as animal shelters. You can try to sell them at a yard sale or consignment shop. Food can be donated or, if it is perishable, given to the neighbors or used up at a farewell party.

If an item can't be given away, check to see if it can be recycled rather than sent to the landfill. Recycling centers are available for many household materials, including mattresses and electronics.

A good portion of the ecological footprint of moving comes from the heavy use of cardboard containers and their packing tape. You can cut down on the use of these products by getting reusable containers. Some companies will rent these containers; some movers even offer them free of charge.

You can also reuse cardboard containers rather than buying new ones. Supermarkets and liquor stores are usually happy to part with the boxes that were used in their latest shipments. Liquor boxes are especially useful, since they are sturdy and built to transport fragile items.

If you need to pack a box to protect the items, use sustainable materials. Corn-based packing peanuts are biodegradable and won't pollute the groundwater. You can also use materials such as clothing, newspapers, or old plastic shopping bags to cushion items in boxes.

Reduce the paper waste of junk mail by setting up a temporary forwarding address with the post office. The post office does not give this information to direct mail marketers, so you'll have the dual benefit of reducing waste and avoiding these unwanted materials.

Search for a company with green moving practices. Some moving businesses offer environmentally sound practices such as using biodiesel fuel in their trucks, reusable crates, and even planting trees after each move.

Homeowners who want to offset the emissions caused by their move can purchase carbon offsets. Carbon footprint calculators are available online to determine how much carbon dioxide you are contributing to the atmosphere, and these often come with options to donate to efforts such as forest conservation to offset these emissions.