When I talk about a Green Halloween, I’m not talking about your totally awesome witch costume. I’m talking about having an eco-friendly holiday. Halloween is one of the best times of the year, but it can also be pretty wasteful. Cheap, store-bought costumes that will only be worn once, plastic decorations, and pumpkins that don’t get tossed until Thanksgiving and have now turned to good, almost all aspects of Halloween can be made a little greener.
Decorations
A lot of cute Halloween decorations can be made at home with supplies you already have or that you can get from Walmart and other department stores. There are plenty of tutorials and DIY blog posts that are great guides on how to make super easy Halloween decorations.
Here are some decorations that are easy to make and look good. A lot of these decorations use the same supplies, and they can be saved and reused next year.
-Toilet Paper Roll Bats (https://www.craftymorning.com/toilet-paper-roll-bat-craft-kids/)
-Yarn Pumpkins (https://onelittleproject.com/yarn-pumpkins/)
-Mason Jar Mummy Lanterns (http://www.ramblingrenovators.ca/2012/10/diy-mason-jar-mummy-lantern.html)
Costumes
As with decorations, costumes can be made from items you already have. Instead of going to the nearest Halloween store and buying a one-time use, expensive, poorly-made outfit, try looking through your closet to see what you have. If you have an idea for a costume and are still missing a few parts, go to a thrift store or second-hand store to get what you need. Here are a few examples of costumes that can be made with items already at home:
-Gift (http://www.thebudgetdiet.com/easy-cheap-homemade-halloween-costumes)
-Tourist (http://www.thebudgetdiet.com/its-a-thrifty-halloween)
-Error 404: Costume Not Found (http://www.thebudgetdiet.com/last-minute-halloween-costumes-made-with-t-shirts)
Pumpkins
A huge staple of Halloween is pumpkins. I grew up carving pumpkins into Jack-O-Lanterns that would be placed on the front walkway on Halloween. The pumpkins stayed outside for a few days after Halloween, or a few weeks, and were tossed when they turned to mush. A lot of people keep the pumpkin seeds to roast, but they skip the rest of the pumpkin. The whole pumpkin can be used. After Halloween and before the pumpkins turn to mush, they can be cut into cubes, which can then be stored in airtight container for up to a week. Pumpkin is great for soups and stews, veggie roasts, or as a mashed side dish. If you don’t want to eat your pumpkin, you can compost it. UW Stout has compost bins in each residence hall that the pumpkins can be placed in. Most cities and towns have places where residents can drop off compost, otherwise a local farmer or your own garden could use the pumpkin.
Halloween Parties
A lot of people throw costume parties around Halloween. If you are thinking of hosting a party, consider asking a friend or two to co-host with you. That way, you don’t have to do all the planning and prep work by yourself. If you do co-host, communicate with the other hosts to figure out who is in charge of what. It is not great when everyone brings napkins and utensils, but no one gets plates or cups. If you are planning on having food at your party, consider doing a potluck. Have each guest bring one dish to share. That way you and your hosts don’t have to do all the cooking yourselves, and people can bring dishes they know they like.
If you have a lot of time to plan before your party, purchase compostable plates and utensils instead of paper plates. Brandless Bagasse Sugarcane Fiber Plates are only $3 and they come in 32-count packs. Brandless also has disposable utensils, and Tree Free Napkins ( https://brandless.com/category/household-and-kitchen/tableware/disposable-tableware). If you don’t have enough time before your party to wait for shipping, use Dixie brand plates and cups instead. Their plates can be recycled, and their wax-coated cups can be composted.
If you are attending a Halloween party instead of hosting, there are a few things to keep in mind. Be respectful of the host and the place the party is happening in; don’t throw trash on the floor, outside, or in the kitchen sink, and pick-up after yourself. If the party has food, try to use one plate and cup. Keep track of which cup is yours, not only for safety, but if you lose your cup you will have to use another one. And above all, stay safe.
Have a great Halloween everyone!