Earth-friendly Halloween Tips

Source: Eartheasy.com

Here are a few tips to help make your Halloween a little easier on the environment.

Make your own costume
A visit to your local thrift store can provide a variety of used clothing and accessories for trick-or-treating costumes. Bring the children and let them create their outfits using what's available. Resist the urge to buy new costumes. Another Earth-friendly option is to rent a costume—spare yourself and the environment the cost of yet another new product. You can also try swapping costumes with neighbors and friends.

Remember to include bright, highly visible materials or accessories as part of the costumes.

Make your own treats
Homemade treats, such as candied apples and Poppycock®-style glazed popcorn with nuts are favorites with children. Use wax paper, cellophane, or small paper bags to wrap your treats. Encourage the children to help make the treats.

Buy a pesticide-free pumpkin
Look for a local grower who offer organic pumpkins. You can save the meat and use it for a pumpkin pie. When the holiday is over, your pumpkin will also make a great contribution to your compost.

Use a cloth loot bag
Use a pillowcase or cloth shopping bag or make a simple loot bag using recycled materials. No need to run out and buy a plastic loot bag, which will be discarded after a single use.

Remind your children to dispose of their candy wrappers in their bags or in trash cans rather than on the street.

Use rechargeable batteries
Be sure to send your trick-or-treaters out with pocket flashlights, and use rechargeable batteries if possible. Disposable batteries are a needless burden on the environment in both manufacture and disposal.

Redecorate
Keep Halloween decorations from year to year so you don't need to buy new ones each season.

Burn beeswax candles
Household candles are usually petroleum based. Pure beeswax candles are easier on the environment, and the natural smell is mellow and compelling. Beeswax candles are more expensive, but they do burn longer.