Ghosts, Ghouls, and Going Green this Halloween

As the leaves turn golden and the nights get cooler, Halloween begins to creep up. While we indulge in all the festive fun, there’s something even scarier lurking behind the scenes — our environmental impact. Between the mass production of costumes, plastic decorations, and disposable candy wrappers, the environmental impact of Halloween is often overlooked. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be this way!

Here are some tips for a more sustainable Halloween:

Be-witching Eco-Friendly Costumes. Costumes are a big part of the fun, but one of the biggest sources of waste during Halloween is costumes, which are often made from synthetic materials that are harmful to the environment. Many costumes are worn once and then discarded, contributing to landfills. Instead of buying a new costume each year, consider these alternatives:

• DIY Costumes: Make your costume using materials you already have at home. Repurposing old clothes, fabrics, or thrift store finds not only reduces waste but also adds a unique touch to your Halloween look.

• Costume Swaps: Organize a costume swap with friends, neighbors, or your local community. By trading costumes, you can give old costumes a new life and save money in the process.

  
  

Decorations That Don’t Haunt the Earth. Halloween decorations are another major source of waste, with many cheap, plastic items ending up in landfills after just one use. To minimize your environmental impact, opt for decorations that are reusable or biodegradable.

• Natural Decorations: Pumpkins, gourds, and cornstalks make excellent decorations and can be composted afterward. You can also use fallen leaves, twigs, and pinecones to create a rustic, autumnal atmosphere.

• DIY Decorations: Get creative by making your own decorations using recycled materials. Old fabrics, paper, and cardboard can be transformed into spooky ghosts, bats, spiders, etc.

• Solar-Power: If you’re setting up lighting, opt for solar-powered string lights or lanterns. This will help you reduce your energy consumption.

  
  

Sweet Treats Without the Scary Waste. Trick-or-treating is one of the highlights of Halloween. From plastic candy wrappers to single-use bags, there can be a lot of unnecessary waste. This year, you can make your trick-or-treating more sustainable with a few simple adjustments while keeping the fun alive.

• Bulk Candy: For your Halloween celebrations, if possible, buy candy in bulk and distribute it using small, reusable containers or paper bags. This cuts down on the amount of plastic waste generated by individually wrapped candy.

• Reusable Trick-or-Treat Bags: There are reusable options such as sturdy cloth totes, pillowcases, or reusable shopping bags which can hold plenty of candy without contributing to waste and can be used year after year. For an extra touch of Halloween fun, you can decorate or paint your bag with Halloween-themed designs.

  
  

Ghoul-Friendly Travel. On Halloween night, neighborhoods often buzz with cars shuttling trick-or-treaters or partygoers from house to house. This surge in traffic can contribute to unnecessary emissions. Instead, embrace greener transportation options.

• Walk or Bike: Instead of driving between neighborhoods, leave the car behind and consider walking or biking for Trick-or-Treating. Or attend local Halloween events that you can walk or bike to. Cutting down on car trips, especially in densely populated areas, helps reduce vehicle emissions and air pollution. It’s also safer for pedestrians, especially at night. Plan bike routes using the North Texas Bikeways map.

• Carpool: If you need to drive, plan routes ahead of time to gather your friends, family, or neighbors and carpool to your Halloween festivities. Carpooling reduces the number of vehicles on the road, decreasing congestion and emissions.

  
  

With a little creativity and some eco-conscious decisions, you can have Halloween that’s just as spooky and fun, without the environmental fright.