Spooky, Sustainable Style: How to Have a Zero Waste Halloween
Giant skeletons are climbing rooftops, foam gravestones are popping up on lawns, and Halloween is everywhere. But all that spooky fun comes with a scary amount of waste!
Halloween is one of the most wasteful holidays of the year, with decorations, costumes, and candy wrappers often ending up in the trash after just one night. The good news? You don’t have to sacrifice Halloween fun to cut down on waste. In fact, some of the most creative costumes are the ones you make yourself, using things you already own or can find secondhand. And chances are, you’ll save money, too!
Swap It
Odds are there’s a costume in your closet that won’t be worn again. Many communities host free costume swaps, so try searching “costume swap near me.” If you missed one, start your own at your workplace, school, neighborhood, or place of worship. All you need is a table, a few racks, and some volunteers. Folks drop off what they’ve outgrown and leave with something new to them.
Thrift It
Your local thrift store is a goldmine for one-of-a-kind looks. Rather than hunting for a ready-made outfit, try putting together your own! Mixing and matching is half the fun, and nobody else at the party will show up in the same outfit. Thrifting also supports a local business, and whatever you don’t use again can go back to the shelf (or to next year’s swap).
Find thrift shops near you using the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Reuse Hub for Boulder County and Beyond!
Rent It
Need something more elaborate, like a full-body creature suit, a historical gown or a showstopping wig? Renting means you get the wow factor without buying something that will sit in a bin for 364 days.
Check out the Reuse Hub for Boulder County and Beyond for local businesses that offer rental costumes, props, accessories, and more.
Don’t forget the extras
A few other small swaps keep the whole night low-waste:
- Candy carrier: Skip the plastic pumpkin bucket. An old pillowcase or a canvas tote works just as well, and the tote is useful all year long.
- Decorations: Real pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks, hay bales, and fallen leaves look great and can be composted afterward (remove any candles or non-natural bits first). If you buy store-bought décor, choose sturdy pieces you’ll actually reuse for years.
- Treats: Wrappers are tough to avoid, but candy in recyclable cardboard boxes beats thin film plastics. Outer paper wrappers can be recycled, though paper with a plastic lining inside can’t. Foil can go in the recycling if you ball it up with other aluminum until it’s at least 2 inches wide.
- Parties: Use real plates and cups instead of disposables, and ask guests to bring their own dishes and containers for leftovers.
Happy haunting! Here’s to a Halloween that’s scary good and waste-free!
