Tricks and Treats to Put the Green in Halloween
What’s not to love about Halloween, everyone’s favorite season of tricks and treats? Costumes, candy, and pumpkins can be seen at every turn. But, what if those costumes, decorations, candy, and pumpkins are contributing to frightening amounts of waste or are full of scary chemicals? Probably not the treat you were expecting. According to the National Retail Federation, 7 out of 10 consumers plan on handing out candy and nearly half will dress up in costume or decorate their home – spending on average $82.93.
Here are some tips to keep your Halloween in check so that Hedorah the Smog Monster never comes to life.
Use Your Pumpkin
Pumpkins are so much more than just decoration. Don’t let that deliciousness go to waste. Roast the seeds, carve the meat, make a body scrub, there are endless possibilities. We love these ideas: 28 Things You Can Do with Pumpkin Guts.
Skip the Smog
In 1971, the movie Godzilla vs. Hedorah (pictured above) featured an emissions-fueled monster that went on a rampage through Japan. Don’t fuel Hedorah. Get to your Halloween party emissions free! Use Clean Air Council’s multi-modal mapping tool Go Philly Go to plan your trip.
Upcycle Your Costume
Save money and have an impressive original costume by DIY-ing it or shopping for a thrift store costume. Even if you don’t have a specific costume in mind, sometimes seeing what is available will get the creative juices flowing. Pro-tip – ask friendly staff for help. They have seen all the merchandise and probably have some great ideas. We’ve scored great costume finds at Philly Aids Thrift and The Resource Exchange. Time crunch? Raid the closet of a family member or friend for free.
Make Your Costume Count
Show us how scared you are of the smog monster or the dangerous emissions from oil and gas production. Put on a gas mask, respirator, or dust mask and trick or treat in support of our #CutMethane campaign. Take a photo and share it on social media with the #CutMethane hashtag, you’ll join the many who have already participated.
Avoid a Candy (Wrapper) Nightmare
For health and safety reasons, individually wrapped Halloween candy is the norm. How can you stop those wrappers from becoming a landfill monster? Channel your inner middle-schooler and upcycle them into jewelry or crafts. Before you know it, it will be holiday season. Here are some homemade gifts that use candy wrappers: 11 Clever Candy Wrapper Crafts.
Alternatively, Terracycle offers candy and snack wrapper recycling. Keep that Captain Planet costume on for a few more days and organize a neighborhood or office candy wrapper collection. Terracycle Candy and Snack Wrapper Box
Cure the Post-Halloween Hangover
Not sure what to do with costumes and decorations after Halloween? If you aren’t going to use them next year, donate them. The Halloween Helpers collect previously-enjoyed, gently-used Halloween costumes and donate them to children who may not typically be able to participate in this yearly celebration.
Did your trick or treaters score the motherload and now you have enough candy to feed an army? Do just that. Donate candy to Soldiers’ Angels Treats for Troops.
Happy Halloween!
