7 tips for a green Halloween
Halloween is a scary time of year (in a good way). It can also be a chance to try out sustainable options that are more treat than trick. Here are some Halloween sustainability tips that won’t have you saying, “Boo!”
1. Buy costumes secondhand, or make your own!
You can spend a whole lot of money on a Halloween costume — or almost nothing! Post in a neighborhood social media group, like BuyNothing, and ask if anyone has old costumes to give away. Or make it a DIY Halloween (we love #20 — turning a black umbrella into a spider costume!) Create your own unique costume using items you have around the house or can pick up at a craft store. (Bonus points if you pick up materials from a creative reuse center like The WasteShed.)
2. Don’t buy more candy than you need.
It’s a bit of a Goldilocks conundrum. You don’t want to run out of candy and disappoint the kids who knock on your door. But you also don’t want to buy more than you need. If you’re new to the neighborhood, ask your neighbors for a rough estimate of how many trick-or-treaters to expect. We used to have a neighbor who kept a spreadsheet of how many kids came by each year so he knew how much candy to buy. Be that guy!
3. Compost your pumpkins.
Your jack-o-lantern made you smile all month. Keep the Earth happy by composting your pumpkin instead of trashing it. Chicago offers Pumpkin Smash events after Halloween is over, saving pumpkins from the landfill, where they generate harmful methane gas. Keep your pumpkin compost-ready by carving it instead of painting it.
4. Reuse trick-or-treat bags.
Buy a bucket that your children can use their whole childhood, or go retro with a pillowcase.
5. Get creative about decorations.
Flex your creative muscles by making DIY Halloween decorations. You’ll save money and make something unique. Head over to Pinterest for inspiration.
6. Throwing a Halloween party? Make it waste-free!
Skip the disposable utensils and plates. Put out pitchers instead of individual bottles and cans. Encourage your guests to bring to-go containers so you aren’t stuck with leftovers. Check out more tips for throwing a waste-free shindig, no matter what time of year.
7. Keep plastic wrappers out of the recycling bin.
Those little plastic candy wrappers are all over the place this time of year. Keep them out of your recycle bin and save your recycling agency from dealing with the cost and time that results from contaminated recyclables.
There you have it, tips for making your Halloween spooky and sustainable. As Halloween kicks off the start of the end-of-the-year holiday season, check out more tips for making this special time of year waste-free.
