MCC Daily Tribune

Green Tip: Green Halloween

The National Retail Federation’s annual Halloween Consumer survey revealed that total Halloween spending in 2023 was expected to reach a record $12.2 billion, exceeding the 2022 record of $10.6 billion. That includes decorations, plastic-wrapped candy, and costumes that will eventually find their final resting place in landfills and waste incinerators. One 2019 study co-sponsored by Fairyland Trust noted that store-bought costumes are made of oil-based synthetics that do not decompose quickly and are often discarded after one use.

Conservation Law Foundation offers some suggestions to reduce plastics this Halloween:

• Create decorations using twigs, fallen leaves, jugs, and discarded cardboard instead of purchasing plastic decorations. Be creative using paint and paper- mâché for the perfect effect.

• Not crafty? Use potted marigolds, gourds, pumpkins, or fallen branches as seasonal decorations.

• Create your costume rather than purchasing one.
  • Old clothes can be used as pieces or parts of costumes.
  • Shop at thrift stores or yard sales to get clothes to use in costumes.

• Buy foil or paper-wrapped candies or those packaged in single serving boxes instead of those in unrecyclable plastic wrappers.

• Or hand out soda cans and the kids then get 5 cents when returning the container to the store!

• When having a party, use regular dishes or get a set of lightweight reusable camping or picnic ware, instead of using disposable plates and bowls.
  • Avoid using plastic single-use cutlery.
  • Get biodegradable cups and use a marker (or apply cute labels) to identify cups so partygoers can keep track of theirs.

Ann Penwarden
Sustainability Steering Committee
10/10/2023