Table of Content
You could also give out small gifts instead of candy. Things like Halloween-themed pencils, erasers, mini coloring books, or bookmarks are relatively low waste even once they reach their end of life. Sweatpants and sweatshirts easily transform into different animals with a few add-ons and accessories. Even normal clothing or an old uniform with a bit of makeup and fake blood can be perfect for something like a zombie. These are great to leave up through Thanksgiving, and they can be composted, added as garden mulch , or donated to someone with horses, chickens, or outdoor animals afterwards. Here are some things to think about to plan your eco-friendly Halloween.
If a wrapper can’t be crumpled up into a ball and bounces back instead, then it’s mixed with plastic and can’t be recycled. Decorate your home with pumpkins, gourds, and autumn leaves. Carve pumpkins into Jack-o’-lanterns for spooky decorations — you can even roast and eat the seeds. Carving pumpkins can be a fun activity and they make for even better decor. If you are unable to carve or prefer not to, using pumpkins that are all shapes, sizes, and colors is a great way to decorate your house or outdoor space. One of the biggest problems faced by families on Halloween are all the plastic-wrapped chocolates and sweets.
Zero Waste Halloween Ideas | Halloween Treats
Sourcing local pumpkins is the classic and easy way to decorate for a zero waste Halloween! Other locally-bought autumnal squash are a great compliment too. There’s no need to trash the planet just to decorate your home for Halloween. You can use food that can later be eaten to decorate your home.
For a nearly zero waste Halloween costume, think about things that can be reused, reworn, or recycled. For an extremely simple zero waste decoration, artfully scatter leaves to give your house a more spookily unkempt look. But the good news is that it’ll probably save you money, and it doesn’t take a lot of time to make your home look fit for fright night.
Recycled scarecrow
We all know of the houses that gave out toothbrushes instead of candy. You could carry on that tradition with bamboo toothbrushes. If you’re going to buy something new, look for decorations that are long-lasting and can be used year after year. Or repurpose any old Halloween decorations that are lurking in the back of the cupboards.
Actually, your imperfect leopard spots will give this pumpkin a handmade charm. When carving pumpkins, make sure you don’t throw out the insides. Americans generate a ton of food waste – about 40.7 million tons a year according to the EPA – most of which can be avoided through proper storage, composting, and cooking. The flesh of pumpkins, for example, is perfect for baking, and roasted pumpkin seeds make a tasty zero waste snack.
The Complete Guide to a Zero Waste Halloween (Plus an Infographic)
You could also upcycle and reuse a range of different items and materials to make decorations for your home. For example, you might be able to enjoy some crafts with kids using old plastic packaging, newspaper, scrap paper, old magazines etc., and old clothing. Use some old black hose and an old black T-shirt to sow a giant spider, for example, or make ghosts from old white sheeting...
If you want something more elaborate, source secondhand and think about getting eco friendly decorations that will last. And of course, if you already have items that you bring out year after year, it’s fine to use these as well. What gorgeous fall-themed items could you use to decorate? Think colored-leaves, pinecones, or other spooky-adjacent natural adornments for your party tablescapes.
Enjoy the Seasonal Harvest Around Halloween
An estimated $350 million is spent on pet costumes. Americans buy roughly 600 million pounds of candy each Halloween, most of which comes in single-use packaging that is not properly disposed of. 32% of Americans buy their costume brand new, from a retail store. 12,500 Tonnes of Halloween costumes get sent to landfills each year in the UK, about 7 million costumes just in the city of Britain. GHG emissions from annual pumpkin waste are equivalent to over 1 million tons of CO2, or seven billion beef patties. 18,000 Tonnes of pumpkins are sent to the landfills each year in the United Kingdom alone, though entirely edible.
Cheap synthetic Halloween costumes often just get worn once and sent right to the landfill. It’s all the more wasteful considering that the textile and apparel industry account for 10% of global carbon emissions. Every month, the Women’s Resource Center Thrift Shops gift an average of $8,000 in clothing and other items to women in need. They are a local Northern Michigan organization and are right here in Traverse City at 720 S Elmwood Ave #2.
While I’m normally a grump that just prefers to wear my usual all-black outfits and call it a day, some years I can be convinced to don a Halloween costume. 172 million Americans participate in Halloween activities each year. If each spooktacular person could make more sustainable choices during these seasonal festivities, at least 172 million pounds of trash could be averted.
We recommend asking your friends and family if you could borrow any Halloween costumes from years prior. Plus, you can even offer them your costume from last year in exchange and help them have a green Halloween too. With autumn in full swing and Halloween right around the corner, many Americans have already started planning their costumes for the 31st. Unfortunately, a large portion of people will buy a cheap costume from a fast fashion retailer and never wear it again, which is extremely wasteful.
My public library hosts a Halloween costume swap each year. You bring in a used or new costume and you get a certificate that allows you to pick out another costume from the pile. Make your own costume by getting creative with the clothes and accessories you already own.
No comments:
Post a Comment