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With costumes to plan, festive celebrations to attend, and spooky movies to enjoy, there are so many reasons to get excited for Halloween. Add in the tempting treats and creative decor, and it’s no surprise this holiday is a seasonal favorite.
However, while it’s a fun holiday, the amount of waste left over can be less so, ABC News reports. That’s because of once-worn costumes that end up in landfills and non-recyclable wrappers that contribute to millions of pounds of trash. However, through small steps you can help the environment.
Get Creative With Costumes and Decorations
While most costumes aren’t environmentally friendly due to being made of non-biodegradable materials, there are other ways to dress up this holiday instead of buying a new costume each year. Consider reusing old costumes from older siblings, friends, neighbors, or exploring thrift shops for a sustainable Halloween. You can also get creative with items lying around the house like bedding, sports equipment, and winter accessories, to design the perfect Halloween costume.
You can do the same with decorations. Stockings that have runs can be used for spider webs. Clean Styrofoam can also be turned into Halloween masks.
Reduce Energy and Plastic
There are a variety of ways to cut energy during the scary season. If you’re hosting a Halloween party, send digital invites to reduce your carbon footprint. Make sure to also avoid single-use plastics like cups, plates, and cutlery. If you typically purchase a plastic Halloween pail, you can ditch it for a wicker basket as a unique and environmentally-friendly alternative.
Furthermore, instead of buying individually wrapped candy make some sweet treats yourself, according to Good On You. You can bake Halloween-themed cookies, homemade Rollos, and peanut butter balls as a tasty and sustainable alternative.
When it comes to decor, use LED lights for your decor to minimize energy consumption and unplug anything that isn’t actively being used, WCNC reports. As far as pumpkin decorations, a Halloween staple, buying local pumpkins can eliminate emissions while helping farmers in your local community.
Compost and Clean Up
You can compost your pumpkin, but also give back to earth in other ways including through chopping it up and leaving it out for local wildlife to enjoy, according to ABC News. Try transforming your pumpkin into a temporary bird feeder and leave the pumpkin seeds for migrating birds. Just make sure these materials are absent of paint, coating, and any nonorganic compounds.
Another way to celebrate the end of Halloween rather than through finishing a spooky movie marathon? Take part in post-Halloween cleanup events. “Those capes and witch hats don’t just vanish after October 31 — they stick around for decades, breaking down into microplastics and polluting our planet,” Lexy Silverstein, a sustainable fashion advocate, tells ABC News.
So volunteer as an individual or get involved in a community-based cleanup event to prevent the trash from entering waterways and neighborhood playgrounds. It’s a powerful way to protect the environment and keep the holiday eco-friendly. Remember, you can join in on the fun this Halloween while saving the planet, through simple actions.
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