How to Make Halloween Eco-Friendly

Landfill pollution from Halloween is scarier than any ghost or goblin.

You can help reduce the frightening amount of waste this season with a few simple habit changes that can save both your budget and the environment. That’s a two-fer we support wholeheartedly.

How to make Halloween eco-friendly_ecoxplorer.com — Photo: Big Re-Use

These tips are from our friends at Big Reuse, a resale operation in New York City that resells everything from clothing to furniture and appliances.

1. Don’t buy new.

Shop secondhand, check your local Buy Nothing group or swap your old costume for a friend’s. Use vintage or borrowed materials to create an original costume with a backstory.

2. Upcycle what you already have.

No time to thrift? Dig into the bowels of your closet and conceptualize a costume based on what you find. Some of the best ideas require little more than your imagination or a funny meme.

Here’s some ideas from Playbill to look in your closet and dress as one of the characters in a favorite Broadway show, including The Rocky Horror Show.

3. DIY spooky decor.

Halloween decorations are made of cheap plastic and end up in the landfill.

Make your own designs instead using recyclable or biodegradable materials like cardboard tombstones, gnarled tree branches, fallen leaves and natural twine that are safe for pets and wildlife.

4. Ethical treats.

Most Halloween candy relies on palm oil, single-use packaging and labor abuse. You can find delicious alternatives that don’t cause deforestation or rely on child labor.

Look for fair trade certification and vetted chocolate brands. Opt for bulk candy at your local refillery or candy sold in compostable or recyclable packaging.

5. Smash, don’t trash your pumpkins

More than one Billion pounds of pumpkin end up in landfills each year, so after your Jack-o’-lantern has deflated to the ground, don’t put it in the trash.

Compost it or, for even more fun, bring it to a pumpkin smashing event at your local community garden or park.

See our guide to 1,000 FREE pumpkin stencils and Halloween recipes

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is an award-winning journalist with 25+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.