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