Looking to green up your Halloween, but missed the costume swap sponsored hosted by City of Kirkland? Never fear. There are still some super spooky ways to make your Halloween eco-friendly.
First up, use every part of the pumpkin. After making Jack-O- Lanterns, how about seasoning and toasting the pumpkin seeds for a healthy, tasty snack? The pulp is great for soup, ravioli, or even a pumpkin spice latte with real pumpkin puree! After Halloween is over, make sure to compost sagging Jack-O- Lanterns rather than throwing them away. Just remember to remove any candles or lights before adding pumpkins to your yard waste.
Be smart with candy. Trick-or- treaters are often told to throw away anything without a wrapper, but homemade candy is a more sustainable option for parties, family, and friends. If you end up buying candy, make sure to buy in bulk to avoid excess packaging waste. After Halloween, leftover candy can be repurposed in dessert recipes, used as ice cream toppings, mixed with trail mix, or donated to local charities.
If you did miss the Kirkland costume swap, consider opting for handmade costumes, rather than plastic-heavy store-bought items. Host your own costume swap, or create original costumes from pieces found in family and friends’ closets or at Goodwill and other thrift stores. Not only will they be less wasteful, the costumes will be unique and there is no risk of ending up with the same costume as someone else. For kids who are fans of the recycling truck, there’s a creative, super easy way to make a Waste Management truck costume with an old box. The directions are in a short video which can be found on Youtube by searching “Waste Management Truck Costume.”
Make or reuse trick-or- treat containers rather than buying new ones. Pillowcases or reusable shopping bags work great, and homemade decorations can make a bag just as festive as a plastic pumpkin. If you already have them, dig out the old containers from previous years.
To cut down on both cost and waste, create your own Halloween decorations from recycled materials. A quick Google or Pinterest search provides endless inspiration for DIY decorations.
If there are essential pieces you must buy, purchase secondhand and be sure to store them for use in future years.
October is also the perfect time for tree planting and outdoor projects in the community. On Saturday, Oct. 15, join the Green Kirkland Partnership and EarthCorps to help restore natural areas at O.O. Denny Park. For more information and to sign up in advance, visit www.greenkirkland.org.
Michelle Metzler is a spokesperson with Waste Management, Inc.
