Fall is one of the most decorative seasons because of the trendy Autumn supplies and Halloween items. People go all out for the spooky season, whether they have cobwebs and scary lights outside their house or pumpkins scattered throughout the front yard. Though Halloween and Fall bring big celebrations, it can also bring tons of waste. Come November 1st, pumpkins, costumes, and party supplies end up in the trash.
Millions of pumpkins are wasted each year. Halloween costumes, which are composed of plastic, end up in a landfill. Candy wrappers, another plastic source, end up in the trash and are even left on neighborhood streets. Party decorations are thrown away. All of these things combined coming from the majority of households can contribute to the production of waste. If you want to keep the spooky season going sustainably, here are four ways how you can do just that!
- Use Your Pumpkins to Their Fullest Potential
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Before you carve your pumpkin and throw out the inside, remember that you can use every part of your pumpkin. By keeping the seeds, you can roast them and try delicious recipes. Some pumpkin-based examples are pie, bread, and cookies. If you have any of the pumpkin insides leftovers, you could freeze them. Also, you can compost your pumpkin instead of throwing it away.
- Get Creative with Costumes
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Save your costumes instead of throwing them out. You could also use clothing and items that you already own or even trade these things with friends. Get creative with your clothes or look on Pinterest for DIY ideas. Try making your own face paint (there are many tutorials online) or using your own cosmetic makeup.
- Be Eco-Friendly While Trick-or-Treating
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If either you, your younger sibling, or someone you know is going trick-or-treating, use a reusable bag to keep the candy. Also, try to buy sweets packaged in either a paper bag, jar, or cardboard. Remember that if candy is opened while trick-or-treating, place the wrapper into the reusable candy bag. Also, you could even keep the wrappers for arts and crafts or DIY projects.
- Sustainable Parties Are More Fun
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Homemade decorations call for a fun activity with friends and family, and you can find easy tutorials online for them. Remember to keep the plastic to a minimum, avoid plastic plates, cups, forks or knives, etc. You can also use nature as a decoration, for example, gathering leaves and acorns. As for food, try using seasonal options. Remember those pumpkin seeds you kept? Well, try out a recipe to serve to your guests!
By being sustainable this season, you can help lower the environmental impact of Halloween and Fall. Lastly and most importantly, remember to wear masks and follow guidelines when trick or treating, going out, or planning to have a small party!