Halloween is a time for all things spooky, including goblins, ghosts, and ghouls. and trash?

Yes, a single trick-or-treater produces an average of 1 pound of trash. With over millions of kids participating in trick-or-treating every year, it is difficult to ignore the trash issue associated with this cherished and frightening event.

We have eco-friendly Halloween advice for all your beloved fall celebrations, from recycling costumes to properly disposing of pumpkins.

Recycling Tips for Halloween

Make your own decorations

This would be the best choice because you could reuse the decorations year after year by using items you already have around the house. As a result, there would be no waste produced.

Pumpkins

Remove any candles or additional decorations from used pumpkin lanterns after Halloween. You can cut up the pumpkins and put them in caddies.

Scooped-out pumpkin flesh can either be saved for later use or utilised to make pumpkin soup. The entire amount of food waste collected in food caddies is converted into compost or green electricity!

Use Eco-Friendly Bags

Although plastic bags might seem like a convenient option for trick-or-treating, they can ultimately produce a horrifying amount of waste. Trick-or-treaters are a major contributor to the estimated 100 billion plastic bags that Americans discard each year. You may simply avoid making this needless error by purchasing recyclable Halloween candy bags. Here are some eco-friendly options for your kids to transport their treasure throughout the neighbourhood.

Eco-Friendly Bags for Trick-or-Treating:

• Tote bags
• Old handbags
• Brown paper bags
• Backpacks
• Drawstring bags
• Pillowcases

Decorations

If you have plastic ornaments, consider selling, donating, or saving them for the upcoming year. A community centre or a school will always accept additional decorations for Halloween-related events.

You frequently cannot recycle plastic decorations that are broken. They should be disposed of in your domestic waste bin because many of these are hard plastics or mixed materials.

What about that spooky, illuminated plastic ghost decoration? I meant e-waste, anything that contains batteries. It must be appropriately disposed of at a designated regional waste facility. Batteries should not be left inside decorations since they can leak. Keep dead batteries aside, perhaps in a convenient battery recycling container. Then deliver them to a disposal facility or a battery collecting point. There are currently collection sites for various types of batteries in many nearby supermarkets.

Sweet wrappers

Finished trick-or-treating? Probably every inch of that hoard of sweets is covered in plastic wrap. The good news is that candy wrappers are now recycled in supermarkets across the nation together with plastic bags and wrapping, even though these kinds of plastics are typically not able to be collected for recycling from your home.

The next time you go shopping, just be sure to place them inside another bag and leave them at the entrance. Being sustainable involves doing more than simply recycling waste; it also entails doing less so that you do not need to recycle as much in the first place.

Recycle 

Most costumes are made of materials that come from fossil fuels. They might take a thousand years or more to decay if they are dumped in a landfill. On your recycling week, the council will pick up any unwanted textiles and apparel. Placing your clothing in a regular shopping bag, such as a clear or white bag, makes it simple to utilise. On recycling day, set it aside next to your green trash can or garbage sack. Textiles are shipped to be recycled or made into new goods like mattresses.

Do not dispose of food waste in your regular trash. It might wind up in the trash. It will begin to ferment once it gets here, producing methane. You can recycle any food that you don’t use right away in your food waste caddy or add it to your home compost bin.

Reduce 

Buy local — Seasonal produce that is locally produced reduces food miles and waste. You may purchase the precise quantity of food you need while preventing food waste. Additionally, it is less likely to be packaged in non recyclable polystyrene. By purchasing fresh, you can securely freeze any meat or food that must be prepared later that day.

Use what you currently have for costumes. Wear old clothing from last year if it suits your kids again! Have a straightforward trade with friends who have children the same age. Buy used and contribute to a neighbourhood charity. The charity shops are overflowing with Halloween costumes at this time of year.

Here are Some Addition Tips for Throwing a Green Halloween Party

• Utilize reusable or biodegradable plates and mugs.
• Serve finger foods that do not require plates.
• If disposable cups are necessary, get guests to reuse them and personalize them.
• Use glass or recyclable containers to serve your meals.
• Recycle pans and aluminium foil.