Fall has arrived, and with it comes cooler weather, colorful leaves, and Halloween! Halloween marks the beginning of the holiday season, a time of celebration and festivity, but it is also a time that generates a significant amount of waste. A 2019 study by the UK-based environmental charity Hubbub estimated that 2,000 tons of plastic will end up in landfills from discarded Halloween costumes alone. That’s the equivalent of 83 million plastic water bottles! And that’s not even including all the candy wrappers and discarded decorations that will also find their way to the trash. At Keep Knoxville Beautiful, we love Halloween, and we want to help the community have a fun holiday while still being low waste.

PUMPKINS

Pumpkins are a Halloween staple. Support a local farm by buying them at a farmer’s market or at a pumpkin patch. Pumpkin patches are also an exciting autumn tradition, and visiting one is a great way to support a local farm while also finding that fall essential.

After you carve your pumpkin, save the seeds! They can be made into yummy snacks, whether you roast them or sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar.

When you are finished with your carved pumpkin, make sure to compost it! If your pumpkin isn’t carved, you can use it to make pumpkin pie.

DECORATIONS

Browse local thrift stores for Halloween decorations or go the DIY route! There are many household items that you can use to make recycled decorations. Some of our favorites include a fallen leaves table runner or wreath, cardboard tombstones, spider nest stockings, and milk jug ghosts.

COSTUMES

One of the easiest ways to be low waste with a costume is to make your own. See what you have in your closet already that could be made into a costume. If you don’t have all the pieces to make your costume, find the rest at a local thrift store. Doing exaggerated makeup and hair is also a fun way to create an out-of-the-ordinary look without spending much money.

If you aren’t much for DIY crafting or if your closet just isn’t producing any ideas, do a costume swap with friends or family. They might have costumes from Halloweens past that they no longer want, and you can also trade your past costumes. This is a great way to get a new-to-you costume that will also save it from the landfill.

HALLOWEEN PARTIES

If you are hosting a Halloween party and want it to be low waste, cut back on disposable cups and plates. Instead, use regular dishes that can be washed. You can use labels or colored rubber bands around the cups to differentiate whose is whose. As well, when buying food or candy (see tips below for sustainably buying candy), make sure not to overbuy so that you won’t end up throwing most of the food away. Be realistic about the number of guests you’ll have and buy accordingly.

CANDY

Candy is the big one. With their individually wrapped packaging, they are waste generating by nature.

First, consider the candy you are buying. Most candy is wrapped in plastic, but there are also candies that come in paper cartons, such as Milk Duds, Nerds, and Junior Mints. Think along the lines of candy sold at movie theatres - they often come in paper carton to prevent rustling during a movie. These paper cartons can be recycled, so they are a great eco-friendly option. Make sure to remind trick-or-treaters to recycle their paper cartons! You can also share KKB’s Halloween Candy Recycling Guide to trick-or-treaters and their parents! Another great option is buying locally made chocolate and candies, such as Bradley’s or Coffee and Chocolate.

As well, be realistic about how many trick-or-treaters will come by. You don’t want to create excess food waste by overbuying on candy that you’ll end up just throwing away because not enough kids came by. If you live in a neighborhood without many kids or in an apartment complex, buy a smaller amount of candy. Make sure to tell the parents you know to stop by your place so that you can ensure it all gets given out. If you live in neighborhood with lots of kids, then buy a bulk sized bag instead of multiple smaller bags.

TRICK-OR-TREATING

The big night has arrived! So how can you be sustainable on Halloween night? A major way is by walking around your local neighborhood instead of driving. This is great exercise, reduces carbon emissions, and also really immerses you into the holiday festivities as you can see everyone’s costumes up close.

Instead of carrying a plastic Halloween basket, try a reusable option! Canvas tote bags or pillowcases make great candy carriers - and they often hold more candy too!

After trick-or-treating and the mass candy consumption, use our Halloween Candy Recycling Guide to determine what candy packaging can be recycled.

We hope you have a spooky and sustainable Halloween!

Spooky and Sustainable at Halloween