Getting ready for a planet-friendly Halloween
Halloween is one of the most exciting times of the year, but it can also be wasteful. As pressure grows to decorate the house, buy costumes for every child (or every student house party), and to buy truckloads of single-serving sweets and chocolates, so does the potential for landfill. With a bit of planning, though, you can have a spooky, fun, and planet-friendly celebration.
Start with costumes. Instead of buying new, check out second-hand options on Vinted and eBay, where you can find great deals on gently used outfits. Local charity shops are treasure troves too, especially places like Babes in the Wood and the Stirling Reuse Hub. Both offer affordable children’s costumes and accessories, keeping perfectly good clothes in circulation and out of landfill. If you’re creative, you can even mix and match pieces to make something unique without spending much.
Next, think about the sweets. Halloween can generate mountains of plastic wrappers, but there are ways to cut down. For parties at home, opt for share bags and homemade treats. Guising, or trick-or-treating, however, will most likely result in single-serving sweets. If you do end up with wrappers, the good news is that they can go into a plastic bottle to make an eco brick. Fill the bottle tightly with clean, dry wrappers until it’s solid. Once it’s full, you can donate it to community eco brick projects or schools that use them for garden or building projects.
When it comes to decorations, skip the single-use stuff. Avoid plastic bunting, fake cobweb sprays, and glitter-covered pumpkins. Instead, go classic with a real carved pumpkin. Use the insides for soup or pie, roast the seeds for a healthy snack, and once it’s done spreading spooky cheer, put it straight into your compost.
By reusing, repurposing, and composting, you can enjoy all the fun of Halloween without the fright of extra waste. It’s all about celebrating creatively — and kindly — towards the planet.
