Between all of the candy wrappers, and the cheap, plastic throw away costumes, decorations and treat bags, Halloween has the potential to be one of the most wasteful holidays of the year. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Halloween traditions can be fun without harming the environment. These simple tips from the Greenzys will help you green your Halloween and make this holiday a celebration you can feel good about.
1) Not only should you buy organic pumpkins, but don’t let them go to waste sitting on your front porch. Instead, put every part to good use. Roast the seeds for a healthy and delicious snack, make homemade pumpkin pie or pumpkin muffins and cut up the remaining pieces to use in your compost bin.
2) Green doesn't mean you have to be decoration-free, it simply means being more creative in your selections. Instead of buying your Halloween decorations this year, look to nature for inspiration. Leaves, sticks, hay bales, dried flowers and other natural elements found in your own yard can make excellent décor.
3) Set a spooky mood by turning off your lights and lowering your energy use.
4) Use soy candles to light up your jack-o-lanterns. Choosing soy candles is more eco-friendly since traditional candles are made from petroleum-based materials.
5) Choose healthier candy options to give out to trick or treaters. Check out your local grocer for some great eco-friendly and organic alternatives. They are healthier and equally as delicious.
6) Or instead of giving out candy all together, choose reusable and fun items that kids can use after Halloween. Seed packets for planting, non-toxic crayons or eco-friendly pencils and stickers make great giveaways, don’t cause excess waste and are actually useful while encouraging green choices.
7) Leave your car at home. Walk house-to-house in a populated neighborhood while trick or treating to save on gas and carbon emissions.
8) Forget the plastic orange pumpkin buckets. Use an old pillowcase or reusable grocery bag to collect candy while trick or treating.
9) Give your child an eco-friendly alternative to light up his way while trick or treating. Shakable flashlights use no batteries and are powered by a shaking motion. Parents can also use solar-powered or crank flashlights to illuminate the way for their kids.
10) Did your kids score the jackpot this season? Set up a recycling area for candy wrappers at your front door. If you are feeling crafty, you can even turn those wrappers into a cute handbag (http://candywrappercrafts.blogspot.com)
While keeping our environment safe is important, it is also important to relax and have fun. After all, this is Halloween. Try to incorporate as many of these tips as you can to create lasting memories without creating a lasting carbon footprint.
Happy Halloween,
Your friends, the Greenzys
Disclosure: I did not receive any form of compensation for this post.
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