Go Green for Halloween!

Autumn’s biggest seasonal event is Halloween. Counting the parties, treats and costumes, many Americans look forward to the festivities of Halloween for months, and some celebrate a few times in the season. For the eco-inclined, however, the only thing scary about this holiday is the amount of waste that is leftover. The National Retail Federation quotes that Americans will spend about $4.75 Billion on Halloween this year. That’s almost all spent on disposable items like decorations, costumes, trick-or-treat bags, candy-wrappers most all of which will end up in a landfill. For a change (and to save some change) this Halloween, why not drop the disposables, use some old fashioned creativity and add a little green to this ghoulishly black holiday?

Top Tips
Choose your decorations wisely.

Everyone enjoys the fact that they can put almost anything out on their front step and with a little ghastly twist it can be in-season. However taking advantage of the only time of the year that we can actually use ghosts and goblins as décor; without seeming crazy, isn’t something that has to be expensive or wasteful. Instead of purchasing new plastic decorations, try either buying them used or renting them. Or reusing your old ones. Better yet, try making your own using old, torn, and broken clothing and materials. A homemade scarecrow stuffed with straw or old shirts with the right positioning and lighting can be so much more frightening (and cheaper) than a store bought one especially if it looks alive.

Don’t forget to use the beautiful resources fall makes available for decorations. Fall leaves mini pumpkins and other gourds and seed pods which gives a festive yet traditional flair to your party. When choosing candles for your jack-o’-lanterns, use soy candles instead of paraffin or petroleum, which release toxic chemicals into the air when burned. Soy candles not only burn cleaner, they burn longer as well.

Always keep in mind that we want as much use out of everything as possible. Creating your own decorations by using materials lying around your home is a great way to spend some time with your family. Never forget that the Internet is a huge resource for directions for many small do it yourself projects. Choose real pumpkins for jack-o’-lanterns instead of plastic ones. You can roast the pumpkin seeds for a tasty autumn snack or try one of the hundreds of online recipes to get the most out of your Halloween pumpkin.

Throw a green party.

Forget the disposable items! When it comes to the linens and dishes, opt for the real deal instead; there are plenty of inexpensive sets of flatware and dishes. If you really must go disposable because your party is too large for reusable items, try more biodegradable and sustainable party supplies that can be composted after use or look into buying recycled paper and plastic plates and silverware. Send guests invitations by e-mail, or make it personal and invite people by phone.

Make your own Halloween party snacks using as many local, organic ingredients as you can, fruits and vegetables and delicious home made dips will never go un-eaten. Support your local farmers! Use the leftover pumpkin from your jack-o’-lantern to try out new pie, cookie and bread recipes. Instead of bobbing for apples and wasting a full bathtub-amount of water, make it an outdoor activity and hang apples from a branch outside. And of course make sure you recycle glass, plastics and aluminum and compost organic materials, to limit waste.

Scary Savings

Arrange with friends with children to try borrowing or swapping out costumes with each other, (this usually works better if the kids weren’t together for the last Halloween). By reusing old Halloween costumes you are limiting the amount of waste produced, not to mention getting something “new for your child” without spending a ton of money. Check out your attic for a fun, low cost solution that also minimize waste, and shop for accessories at yard sales or resale stores. Not only will you save a little cash, you’ll rid your closet of some craft-clutter.

Use your imagination to come up with creative solutions and save time that would have been spent at the mall, but don’t obsess. Don’t forget to send your child trick-or-treating with a reusable bag. Pillowcases make great durable treat bags, and they hold way more candy! The ultimate point of trick or treating is for your child to have fun, not making a fashion statement.

Candy with a Cause.

You don’t have to go the organic fruit route to be environmentally conscious. When in the supermarket choose organic candy, and buy candy in bulk to avoid excess packaging; it’s cheaper too. Candy is candy, if it’s sweet, looks appetizing and tastes good most kids won’t be complaining. And don’t forget to bring your reusable shopping bag to the store for all those goodies.

Trick-or-Treating

Instead of driving to another location to collect treats, do it the old fashioned way and walk or bike to somewhere near your neighborhood. When trick-or-treating at night wear bright-colored clothing to ensure maximum visibility. If you’re concerned about safety, check your city for locations that offer indoor trick-or-treating. Many malls will hold safe Halloween events for families.

Make this disposable holiday a little greener. A little Eco advice from your local green cleaner Susan Switalski of EcoMaids, thanks for reading.

Our franchise website: ecomaids.com/essexnj.