3 Tips to Waste Less This Halloween
1. Decorate without plastic
Plastic ghosts, spun plastic fiber spider webs, inflated plastic witches and zombies all add to the mountains of plastic used around the world each year. Just say no to all the plastic lawn ornaments, pumpkin-shaped plastic leaf bags, and other plastic junk on display at big box stores in October. Focus instead on decorations made of natural materials that have a less ghoulish impact on the environment. After all, what says ‘Halloween’ better than pumpkins? A visit to the pumpkin patch is a treasured family tradition, as is carving jack-o’-lanterns together. Not to mention the tasty and nutritious roasted pumpkin seeds! In addition to big pumpkins for carving, grab some smaller decorative pumpkins as well. Roast pumpkin is a nutrient-rich ingredient that can be used for delicious soups, muffins and lots more. Here are other ways to use your pumpkins once Halloween is over. Unlike plastic decorations, pumpkins can head to the compost when they’re done illuminating the way for trick-or-treaters. If you want to decorate with more than pumpkins, consider making decorations from things you already have, like scrap paper bats and ghosts. Creativity can go a long way to getting the spooky effects you’re after without adding to the holiday waste stream. Here are a bunch of fun ideas for upcycling household items into cool Halloween decor.2. Upcycle those costumes!
Like single-use plastics, single-use costumes aren’t great for the planet. Rather than buy a new costume for your kids every year, try making costumes from things you already own. You’ll not only cut down on waste, you’ll save money. Plus, creating something original is sooo much cooler than joining the ranks of store-bought superheroes and Disney characters. Some low-impact costume ideas: Raid the dress-up collection All those awesome pieces of dress-up gear can be combined into all new costumes. Consider swapping with friends each year to add to the variety. Check out possibilities hiding in plain sight in your clothes closets as well. Sports jerseys and dance gear can help outfit the ballerina or pro baseball player. Or maybe parents’ professional clothes can be used to transform your kiddo into a popular celebrity. Think outside the box Didn’t you have a costume made from a cardboard box at least one Halloween? Whether it’s a vending machine, a refrigerator, a mailbox, robot, Rubik’s cube or a pair of dice, cardboard boxes lend themselves to wonderfully inventive costumes. Investigate other materials sitting in your recycling bin for even more upcycled costume fun. Host a costume swap All the kids in your neighborhood likely have collections of past Halloween costumes. Host a swap for kids to exchange last year’s outfit for a new-to-them costume. While you’re greening your Halloween looks, don’t forget to steer clear of the frightening chemicals commonly used in face paints. Make your own non-toxic DIY makeup instead.3. Choose less wasteful treats
Plastic-wrapped candies are hard to avoid, but going waste-free with your treat bowl is possible with a little effort. Some folks trying to cut back on the sugar fest of trick-or-treating offer non-candy treats, but if you decide to go this route, don’t get tricked into buying loads more plastic! Skip the plastic teeth, light up bracelets, and other plastic gee-gaws. You can get creative and offer polished stones, pencils, coins, seashells, trading cards, or certificates to local businesses. Kids will get more than enough candy from the other houses they visit! Non-food options also help the many families with food allergies celebrate the holiday without fear. The teal pumpkin project aims to make it easier for those with allergies find houses giving out safe treats. (Just be sure to use washable paint so you can still compost your pumpkin.) If you shop carefully, you can find chocolates in recyclable paper or foil packaging. Choose organic and non-GMO and you’ll be doing the planet (and your trick or treaters) a favor. Some intrepid families opt to skip trick-or-treating altogether, instead throwing zero-waste parties with homemade treats and fun Halloween-themed activities. Others use the evening to gather donations for food shelves or other favorite charities.Some spooky (but relatively healthy) treat recipes to try:
Pecan spiderweb Halloween cookies
Witches Brew (Pumpkin Halloween Punch)
Chocolate-Orange Pudding Jack-O-Lantern cups
Spooky Spaghetti Squash Noodle Nests
Garlicky Black Bean Pasta with Deviled Eyes
Gluten-free Pumpkin and White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Orange Bell Pepper Jack-o-Lanterns with Superfood Guacamole
Spooky Cute Monster Teeth
Halloween Ginger Cookies with Icing
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