New Jersey’s DEP has some great suggestions for a Green Halloween! For Trick-or-Treating – Did you know that $400 million of uneaten candy and thousands of tons of non-recyclable candy wrappers end up in landfills every Halloween. Try some alternative treats this year. Consider non-food items with less packaging, like erasers and stickers. Buy treats with ethical and sustainable practice labels like Fair Trade or Carbon Neutral. Donate unopened candy to groups like Treats for Troops and find local schools, churches, workplaces, or community organizations that recycle candy wrappers.
Did you realize that over 80% of Halloween costumes use non-recyclable plastics. Get creative & DIY! Use and repurpose household items to make costumes like bedding and sports equipment or consider wearing secondhand costumes from siblings, friends, and family. Shop at local thrift stores. It’s just as sustainable!
And, how about pumpkins! In the US alone, 1 billion pounds of pumpkins are discarded every year after Halloween, producing toxic methane emissions in landfills. Try baking instead of booting that Jack-o-Lantern. Here are some great recipe ideas online! Composting is also a super way to recycle the nutrients in your pumpkins. Clean your pumpkin and remove the innards then, place it in a sunny spot in the garden and watch it break down. Cover it with a layer of leaves and enrich your soil.
