Green Halloween

Ah, Halloween—that beloved time of year when we cover ourselves in questionable fabric choices, pumpkin spice our lattes, and use death and decay as a decorating motif. But as you resurrect the plastic pumpkins, skeletons, and spiders from their basement graves, have you ever considered the ecological impact of Halloween? If not, you’re in for a true horror show. I invite you to read on … if you dare! 

Costume Doom & Gloom

Who doesn’t love the fun of becoming someone or something else for a night? Landfills, that’s who. Each year, Halloween-related textiles add 12 million pounds of waste each year, most of that from non-biodegradable fabrics like polyester. Of course, there are plenty of options to cut back on the waste—create a costume from items you already own or from sustainable materials (like cardboard), search thrift stores for finds, or have a costume exchange with friends. And don't forget to donate or pass your costume along when you're done!

The Candy Conundrum 

Ah, the glorious, beloved candy. Sure, those “fun-size” candy bars may be adorably delicious, but their wrappers can’t be recycled. In fact, an estimated 600 million pounds of candy are bought each Halloween in the U.S. alone. 

So, what’s a responsible ghoul to do? Consider purchasing candy in bulk to cut down on packaging or look for brands that use eco-friendly wrappers. Some options include Tootsie Rolls (they’re wrapped in wax paper), foil-wrapped candy like Hershey’s Kisses, and candy contained in cardboard boxes such as Junior Mints and Nerds. Of course, you can’t control whether the item gets recycled on the receiving end of the treat. You could also buy some paper treat bags and add in homemade goodies like brownies or cookies or candy that’s not individually wrapped. If you’re feeling exceptionally brave, you can hand out fruit (but be prepared to clean up rotten eggs or toilet paper thrown at your house.) 

The Pumpkin Problem

If you thought the world’s largest pumpkin (weighing in at 2,749 pounds) was big, think again! Each year, Americans carve around 1.5 billion pounds of these orange beauties. But after the carving is done, most pumpkin carcasses end up in landfills, slowly rotting and emitting methane, a greenhouse gas over 25 times more potent than CO₂! It's estimated that discarded jack-o-lanterns generate a billion pounds of food waste each year. But you have more sustainable options! You can turn your carved creation into a culinary masterpiece! If you’re not inclined to whip up a pumpkin risotto, you can simply compost your pumpkin or leave it out for the wildlife. 

Decorations: The Graveyard of Plastics

Americans spend a whopping $3.2 billion each year to spookify our homes and yards. While a styrofoam graveyard scene in the front yard can showcase your Halloween spirit, they’re enough to give environmentalists a real fright. Think before you buy. Ask yourself if the considered purchase is single use? Can it ultimately be recycled or will it eventually end up in a landfill? Perhaps the most terrifying decorations of all are those fake spider webs stretched over bushes and porches. While the webs may be fake, they’re unfortunately realistic at trapping birds and other wildlife. So unless you want to include dead, decaying animals in this year’s display, it’s best to avoid those. If that wasn’t enough, they’re made from unrecyclable plastic, so they’ll haunt the landfill for years to come. If indoor cobwebs are crucial to your design plans, try making a cobweb made from old sweaters or cotton batting. There are still plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween and fall that don’t involve plastic. Search for craft inspiration online, look to nature for decor choices like flowers and gourds, and reuse what you already have. 

Revisit the Ghosts of Halloweens Past 

Halloween has become a $10B+ annual industry, with the average American spending $109 each year on the holiday. But it wasn’t always this way. When I was growing up in central New York, our decorations were a jack-o-lantern and a cardboard spider or ghost taped to the door. Our trick-or-treat bags were pillowcases. My costumes were homemade (although I really, really wanted a polyester one with a plastic mask from Rite Aid). Believe it or not, even without animatronics and inflatable lawn decor, my childhood Halloweens were just as magical, just as anticipated, and just as fun as they are for my children.