By all accounts, Halloween is not an eco-friendly affair. The American Retailers Association estimates that Americans will spend about 5.8 billion dollars on the holiday this year, around $67 per person, most of it going to disposable costumes, individually-wrapped candy, and petroleum-produced decorations. Come November 1, we’re all suffering from a major carbon and credit hangover.
However, it doesn’t have to be this way. With a few simple, eco- and wallet-friendly steps, you can still howl at the moon and party with the pumpkins while saving some cash and carbon for tomorrow.
Costumes Without Carbon
When I was a wee one (which wasn’t that long ago) we made our costumes or came up with an idea and then trolled the thrift stores to find our components. I still go first to Goodwill or Salvation Army to look for my Halloween garb—they’re usually loaded with inexpensive options and—the best part—will take your costume back when you’re done with it. Some thrift stores also have a costume section specifically for Halloween; it’s here that I’ve found princess and Renaissance dresses, a Goldilocks costume, and capes, hats, and other festive accoutrements.
Alternatively, you could borrow friends’ old costumes, sneak into your family’s closets (grandpa’s leisure suits, mom’s muumuus, dad’s dresses … aren’t they always a hit?), visit yard sales, or browse a craft store. There’s something out there for you besides a plastic Darth Vader outfit or a packaged sexy bunny suit—really.
Pumpkins … Not Just for Smashing
There are many ways to make the favorite fall gourd more eco-friendly. Try to get an organic and locally-grown pumpkin from a farmer’s market this year. Better yet, head out to the patch itself and show your kids where the goods come from. When carving, don’t throw away the seeds! They’re great when salted and roasted. If you purchase pumpkins and don’t carve them, turn the golden globes into pumpkin puree. Last year, I decided to rethink carving my pumpkin and kept mine whole, turning it into months of pumpkin recipes. Finally, when you’re done with the carved pumpkin, instead of throwing it away, compost it. If you haven’t already started a home compost pile, fall—with its plethora of fallen leaves—is a great time to start. Otherwise, toss it in your green bin with your yard waste.
Sweet Stuff
Don’t think this section is going to recommend you hand out boxes of raisins or apples to trick-or-treaters, because as we all know and remember those houses sucked! On Halloween, kids and adults alike are looking to mainline sugar and God help those poor souls trying to dole out the nutritional admonishments. Give me some candy!
But still, all those individually-wrapped candies mean a lot of plastic trash come November 1 (not to mention the trash-filled stomachs). Staying sweet while going green means looking for organic or sustainably-grown chocolates and candies, or buying in bulk so there’s less packaging. If you have a huge influx of visitors, it’s not likely you’re going to be able to splurge on some of the organic stuff—it does tend to cost a bit more—but if you’re throwing a party or expecting only a few kids, organic can be an option. Support your local economy by buying from small candy shops that make their own onsite.
Alternatively, you can make your own candy, which is quite easy. Most cookbooks have recipes for peanut brittle, rock candy, fudge, etc. Unless you’re the block captain, most parents would run screaming from a house that gave out unpackaged candies, but these are a great option for intimate get-togethers.
If you don’t like the idea of candy at all, give something useful to kids. Colored pencils, chalk, animal-shaped erasers—you might not get the same squeals of delight the big candy bar houses hear, but you’ll win the favor of moms and dads.
Bagging Your Booty
Perhaps you already know that Americans use over 380 million plastic bags a year, which consumes around 12 million barrels of oil, pollutes land and sea with small toxic plastic particles, and creates marine cleanup nightmares. But those scary statistics are worth repeating for a holiday that’s plastic bag heavy.
So instead of using disposable and environmentally-unfriendly plastic or paper bags or plastic jack-o-lanterns for candy collection, canvas shopping bags and totes make a great, sturdy, and reusable alternative. If you don’t want to threaten misplacement to your often-used shopping bags, try pillowcases. As a kid, these were always our favorite vessel to collect the Halloween booty—they have the promise of a large collection, didn’t tear under great weight, and mom can throw them in the wash and back in the linen drawers after we’re done.
Decorate, Don’t Desecrate
While it is certainly some people’s prerogative to buy and display numerous decorations—one of my neighbors has a front lawn that looks like Walmart barfed its Halloween aisle on it—some of us don’t want to spend a lot of money and don’t want to end up with plastic pumpkins, ghoulish ghosts, and spooky scarecrows in our trash or garage. So, keep it simple. Sheets still make a great hanging ghost in the yard and can be washed and reused. Cotton balls for spider webs, beeswax and soy candles, and strategically-placed leaves can create a haunted, autumnal feeling. One of the best decorations I’ve ever seen were ghosts constructed from tree branches and yellow, orange, and brown fallen leaves—camouflaged so they surprised you! Instead of buying new decorations each year, buy high quality pieces that you can reuse. Turn out most of your lights and use candles to save on energy. Sometimes you might even have some scary items lying around the house. Pictures from middle school? Your recent 401k statement? Something that has been in your fridge from last October? The possibilities are endless.
Get Your Green Party On
Parties most often equal reckless abandon, and many participants are looking more toward maximizing consumption rather than curbing it. However, as host, you can set the scene for an earth-friendly, frolicking good time.
Instead of disposable paper and plastic items, offer reusable utensils, plates, and cups. Yes, this means more dishes, but it’s also cheaper in the long run and creates a much nicer feel to the party. Fall is an awesome time for food—squash, apples, and specialty greens abound. Hit up a farmer’s market to make use of the fall harvest and support local farms while getting some great grub for your throwdown.
Walk the Block
Instead of driving your kids around to trick or treat, walk or ride bikes. This will not only save fuel, save money, and decrease the local air pollution, it will help you burn off some of those excess sugar calories, which might be the scariest part of the night.
So get out there and start cooking and crafting, brainstorming costume ideas, and spookifying your pad, because one of the best saboteurs of a green Halloween is waiting until the last minute.