Make Your Halloween Eek-O-Friendly!
Recycling Tips for a Green Halloween
Everyone loves a spooky Halloween; but the fall favorite can be scary for the environment. Without a doubt, decorations, costumes, and candy are all must-haves during the Halloween season. But Halloween can be the trashiest holiday of the year due to the overflow of plastics, candy wrappers, and other harsh products being thrown into landfills. Beware of the helpful alternatives that allows you to reduce, reuse, and recycle this Halloween!
Sweet Solutions for Your Candy Wrappers
It is easy to assume candy wrappers are made of just plastic or foil material. But in fact, they are neither of these recyclable products. Candy wrappers are made from mixed materials like plastic-coated paper or a Mylar-type plastic. Because of this mixed makeup, they are difficult to recycle. Also, candy wrappers are so small and lightweight, that they do not get sorted properly at recycling facilities.
But when candy wrappers pile up in landfills, the volume is enormous. If you can’t pass up this American tradition, you can reduce your impact. To reduce the overflow of candy wrappers in the environment while assuring you get your fill of Halloween candy, buy in bulk and be familiar with the amount of candy you give away to trick-or-treaters. This reduces the amount of candy bought while also reducing the number of wrappers being thrown away. Both are helpful hints to saving money and keeping the environment clean.
No Tricks, Only Treats
Dare to DIY when it comes to Halloween decorations. Almost all decorations that are store bought come in plastic packaging. This packaging cannot be recycled. To avoid the scary overflow of plastic in landfills, you can easily create your own decorations from recyclable material! But if your talent does not lie on the crafty end of the spectrum, never fear! Here are some eco-friendly Halloween decorations to get your home ready for tricks and treats:
LED lights are the most energy efficient way to light up your festive house. They are also long lasting which means they are reusable for next year’s Halloween festivities. Rather than using the traditional bulbs, LED is the best choice for the environment. These LED bulbs are not only more durable and recyclable, they use at least 75% less energy and they last 25 times longer than traditional bulbs. LED flashlights are also available for trick-or-treating! Rather than using a one-time, non-recyclable glow stick, use LEDs to light the way to all your candy needs.
Instead of synthetic, fake cobwebs, cover your house in cobwebs that are made of 100% cotton or that are made from plant-based fiber. It still gives off the same spooky effect! Synthetic fiber is a material that is neither recyclable nor biodegradable. But materials such as cotton and plant-based fiber are completely biodegradable and safe for the environment. Keep your decorations eco-friendly and your house spooky!
No jack-o-lantern is complete until a candle is lit inside. Millions of candles are bought to light up the streets with glowing pumpkins each year. Rather than buying paraffin candles, choose to buy candles that are gentler on the environment. Paraffin is not the healthiest choice for you or the environment; it pollutes the air we breathe and often leaves a dirty residue. Light up your pumpkins with candles that are made from soy or beeswax. Both are all-natural products of the environment. This is sure to keep the environment happy and your pumpkins lit.