Sustainable Halloween

Halloween is a fun and exciting season. The holiday is full of costumes, candy, friends, and spooky decorations. As you begin to make your Halloween plans, focus on how you can sustainably do so! 

Did you know that each year, one pound of waste is generated per trick or treater? Or that one billion pounds of pumpkins wind up in a landfill each year? Here's how to have a more sustainable Halloween!

Source your pumpkins or squash locally. 

Visit your local farmers market or organic farm stands to purchase your pumpkins. In Florida, the native Seminole Pumpkin makes for a great alternative to the traditional Orange Pumpkin. Seminole Pumpkins are also an excellent substitute for pumpkin or butternut squash while cooking! 

Thrift or make decor and costumes. 

Visit your local thrift store to find Halloween costumes or items you could use to make your one-of-a-kind DIY costume. By shopping for your costume second-hand, you won't have to worry about anyone else having your same costume!

Don't be afraid to make your own Halloween decor. You will appreciate your home decor a lot more when you are the one making it compared to buying it at the store. When you upcycle items you already have in your home, you can give them a longer life span, save money, and have decorations you can use for the years to come. 

Choose low-waste candy or make your treats. 

Foil-wrapped candy or candy that comes in cardboard can reduce plastic waste. This year, try buying candy in packaging that allows it to be recycled or choose from environmentally friendly brands. 

Recycle, reuse, and donate.

When Halloween is over, don't forget to recycle your candy wrappers, donate unwanted supplies or give them to someone else, and save your DIY Halloween decor for next year's festivities. 

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