Happy (Green) Halloween!

Ideas for a More Sustainable Holiday

Take this Halloween season and make it a goal to not be as wasteful. Here are some tips to still have a spooktacular—but sustainable—green halloween.

Halloween Costumes:

• Costume Swap – have your children and their friends come together to peruse gently-used costumes for a new (to them) look for this year
• Mix & Match – take different accessories and items from past Halloween costumes and have that be this year’s costume
• Thrift Shop – Look for inexpensive hand-me-downs or venture to the back of your closet for items to include in your costume
• Make Your Own – get creative with different puns—think “Smartie Pants,” “Cereal Killer,” “Black Friday,” etc.

Halloween Parties:

• Use online instead of paper party invitations
  • You could also create a Facebook group
• If you’re having a small party, use your normal dinnerware and power through an extra load of dishes that night
• Use cloth napkins and tablecloths instead of the disposables
• Make sure to have recycling bins out and visible
• Borrow decorations from friends and family, or if you buy new ones properly store them to be used next year

Trick-or-Treating:

• Walk, bike ride or carpool to your trick or treating spot
• Bring an extra bag to pick up candy wrappers and other trash from littering the streets
• If you’re worried about too much candy, introduce your kids to the “Halloween Fairy.” They can trade their treats for a gift – a toy, movie, game or gift card.

Pumpkins:

• Find a beeswax candle to light up your pumpkin
• Roast your pumpkin seeds instead of trashing them after carving your pumpkin
  • You could also save your seeds to grow your own pumpkins next year
• Look for local pumpkin recycling after the holiday is over

Whether you choose to try one or all of these creative ways to reduce a little waste on Halloween, know that your small effort can lead to a big impact towards a greener holiday. Happy (Green) Halloween!  Give Bargain Dumpster a call if you ever need help with any of your clean out needs! (803) 573-0003