I Implore You to Reduce the Amount of Waste You Throw Away This Halloween.
This is the eerie season, and we are here for that. But one thing that freaks me out every Halloween – in fact, every holiday is the amount of waste it creates. One British study found that suits alone generate more than 2,000 tons of garbage every year . How can we have fun, all this perky playfulness and treats, without creating excessive losses? With that in mind, we’ve put together these ideas to make Halloween more sustainable and reduce the amount of things you need to throw away.
Compost your jewelry
While it is tempting to buy plastic decor (which is not the worst if it can be reused), these giant orange pumpkins will eventually have to be thrown into landfill. Instead, decorate with items that are found in nature: pumpkins, gourds, hay and corn stalks. Make an autumn wreath from the leaves, or frame them on the walls. Cut off the tops of the pumpkins and scoop out the flesh to make vases of natural flowers. Collect Pumpkins, Mini Pumpkins, Pine Cones, and Leaves under the hood. Challenge your family to build their own scarecrow using only recycled materials from your home. When autumn turns into winter, compost all organic matter. (Remember: anything that is drawn cannot be composted, so cut out the pumpkins, but do not paint them.)
Make your own suits (or buy them second-hand)
Instead of buying mass-produced stuff from Amazon, repurpose the things you already own to make the suit. An old white sheet makes the perfect ghost (or mummy), you can turn a black umbrella into the wings of a killer bat , and, well, have you thought about becoming Trader Joe ? (This is cuter than it sounds.) If you’re into Squid Game , check out these DIY costume ideas . Or head to your local consignment store or Goodwill to see what treasures might be buried.
Thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and your own circle of friends can all be great sources of recycled costumes. If you really need to buy a suit, make something out of it that you can wear again.
Make recyclable decor
Look in the wastebasket for items that can scare your yard. Use old milk containers and Christmas lights to make howling perfume jugs , paint paper egg boxes to make bats , and turn cardboard boxes into gravestones.
Use an eco-friendly bag for gifts or gifts.
Want to hear something really scary? Americans use about 100 billion plastic bags a year . Instead of adding a disposable Halloween plastic bag to this waste, decorate a paper bag, a tote bag, a drawstring bag, a plastic bucket you already have, or go old school and use a pillowcase (which holds a lot more candy anyway. ).
Collect your candy
Nobody wants to be the house handing out apples or pretzels, but candy wrappers are a major offender to the general Halloween waste. What can you give out to trick lovers instead? Consider greeting trick lovers with freshly baked cookies, hot buttered popcorn served in small paper bags, or something they can use like Halloween pencils, tattoos, or glow-in-the-dark erasers. If you choose the traditional sweets route, buy in bulk to reduce plastic wrap.
Get rid of your party supplies
If you’re throwing a Halloween-themed party, avoid disposable plates, cups, and cutlery; In fact, you can avoid using utensils as much as possible and focus on the food you eat by hand. Use biodegradable plates or buy a set of thicker plastic plates that can be washed and reused over and over again. Use labels or markers so guests can only use one cup for the entire evening.
Dispose of Halloween Loot Responsibly
Reduce post-Halloween waste by donating , selling, or bargaining for your family’s costumes. Send any organic materials like pumpkins or leaves to your compost bin. Save the man-made spiderweb material to stuff a soft throw pillow (and possibly the future scarecrow), and make unique art and decorations out of … candy wrappers ? While some may be too complex for a non-craft kit, how many of us can’t glue the wrapper to a cardboard square and make a super fun stand ?
If you just can’t stomach your kids eating all of that candy, reach out to Switch Witch , send them to Operation Gratitude, or save them for their stockings or even Easter. (The candy lasts longer than you think . Just make sure these wrappers are bat-free or your cover will explode.)