Halloween is synonymous with tricks, treats, and ghoulish fun! But lurking behind the shadows is a chilling fact: the monstrous waste produced during this festive season. This is your green Halloween guide to make this holiday both fun and sustainable.
For Costumes:
DIY Your Costume Magic! Don’t let those old clothes gather ghostly dust. Dive into your wardrobe and create a nifty costume from scratch and if you’re feeling a little uninspired, there’s always the classic sheet ghost or the countless DIY ideas on the web.
Costume Swapping Soiree! Arrange a Halloween Costume Swap party with friends. Eat spooky treats, blast some eerie tunes, and exchange costumes from past years. Sometimes it is not just about finding the right outfit but also the memories you will create and carry!
For Decorations:
Upcycle & Haunt Your House! Before purchasing new Halloween decorations, see if there are items begging for a second life in your garage or storage rooms. Repurpose used cardboard into creepy wall decorations or craft spiders from old magazines. Pinterest, TikTok, and YouTube are full of upcycled creepy crafts inspirations!
Pumpkins: Go Local or Go Home! Seek local pumpkin patches instead of big retail stores. Not only does it help local farmers, but you also get the freshest pick for your pumpkins. Don’t forget to use the insides to make delicious dishes like pumpkin pie or roasted seeds for friends and family to share. Once the season is over, remember to drop off your pumpkins and gourds for composting, preventing unnecessary waste on Wednesday, November 1st.
Composting times are the following:
- 12:00 pm-2:00 pm at Weinstein’s & Third North’s outside entrances
For Treats:
For candies, shop for organic, fair-trade Halloween treats and choose options that will give you the most candy for the least amount of waste. You could also consider alternatives like Halloween-themed pencils, mini coloring books, or bookmarks that are relatively low-waste.
The Not-So-Terrifying Treat Bag! Ditch the one-use plastic bags, and instead, reuse a tote for trick-or-treating. Jazz it up with some DIY spooky designs to make it a bewitched bag for the exciting day!
While Halloween might be about spooks and scares, the environmental impact doesn’t have to be. With these tips, you can celebrate in eco-style and prove that going green can be just as fun, if not more so, than the usual ghostly waste!