Eco-Friendly Halloween Tips: 4 Simple Ways to Reduce Waste

Halloween is such a fun time of year, but not necessarily the most environmentally friendly. At least, not on the surface. Between candy wrappers, plastic hangers from costumes, and packaging for decorations, Halloween can create a lot of garbage.

But it doesn't have to! Here are four simple, eco-friendly Halloween tips my family and I like to use to keep the waste down without taking away any of the fun.

1. Thrift, DIY, or Borrow a Halloween Costume

Halloween costumes can be expensive, especially if you're buying something new every year. And in addition to being harsh on your wallet, buying a new costume every Halloween can create a lot of waste.

What are some alternatives?

Thrift your costume. Thrift stores are super fun, and you can likely find a more creative or original costume at a thrift store than you would at a typical costume store, big box store, or online.

DIY your costume. Halloween is an awesome chance to get creative! Break out your sewing machine or hot glue gun and have some fun! Here's a Toddler Flower Child Costume I made for S last year. It was originally for Mardi Gras, but it works just as well for Halloween!

If this feels intimidating, pick up some face paint, find some bright and mismatched clothes (or dark and scary-looking clothes), and a funky hat or wig. A costume doesn't have to "be" something in particular to be Halloweeny.

Borrow a costume. Some places even let you rent costumes. New Orleans has a really fun costume rental store downtown! But here in Northern Maine, I haven't seen anything like that.

If your town is more like my new one than New Orleans, ask around among friends or family. Someone you know might have just the costume you're looking for tucked away in their closet.

2. Make Homemade Halloween Treats

Although I wouldn't recommend passing out homemade treats to trick-or-treaters (or trunk-or-treaters), making your own Halloween treats is a great option if you're staying home or hosting a Halloween party.

Instead of buying lots of individually wrapped candy, you can make something festive in your own kitchen.

I haven't personally made any Halloween-themed treats, but here are some really fun ideas: 22 Halloween Treats That Are Deliciously Spooky.

Homemade treats can be a fun way to celebrate while cutting down on some of the packaging waste.

3. Thrift and Reuse Halloween Decorations

Just like with costumes, Halloween decoration costs—and waste—can add up, especially if you buy something new every year.

Check out yard sales and thrift stores to see what's available! You never know what fun decorations you'll find.

We found a bunch of these witch hats at a yard sale a few weeks ago!

And remember, it's perfectly okay to reuse decorations year after year.

Wrap breakable decorations in newspaper or cloth and store everything in a sealable tote to help keep it from getting musty.

It's exciting to break out those familiar decorations again each year!

4. Carry In, Carry Out: Keep Halloween Litter-Free

If you're going to an outdoor Halloween event or taking children trick-or-treating, pay attention to where garbage cans are located.

Make sure candy wrappers and other garbage end up in a bin instead of on the ground.

If no garbage bins are readily available, take your garbage home with you rather than littering.

It's a simple habit that can make a big difference, especially when lots of families are out celebrating.

Have a Happy, Eco-Friendly Halloween!

With a little planning, Halloween can absolutely be a more sustainable event. You don't have to give up the costumes, decorations, or treats to reduce waste. Sometimes, it's just a matter of using what you already have, getting creative, and making a few small changes.

Happy Halloween, y'all, and

Thanks for reading!

💜

Laura