I just read this in the Residents’ Newsletter and felt the need to share more widely… can you add some tips?
All the Halloween fun, less waste
It can be scary how much waste a Halloween party can produce! You can still have lots of fun without producing as much waste.
Dressing up
A scary costume is part of the fun, but it doesn’t have to cost the earth. Get together with friends and “swish” costumes – have a swapping party, so that costumes get reused. Or why not get creative and make your own? You don’t have to be skilled at sewing – cut up old clothes and team with face paint for a zombie or make a ghost costume out of an old sheet. It can be cut up for dusters and cleaning cloths afterwards.
Treats don’t have to be tricky
If you are taking part in trick or treating, and want to keep waste low, avoid individually wrapped items in plastic. Instead, buy loose sweets from a market or zero waste shop, or a large bag online, and wrap portions in twists of bright paper or pretty paper bags. Or why not offer alternative treats? You could try little boxes of raisins or small fruits like apples or satsumas – draw a scary face on a satsuma to match your pumpkins. Or offer something that can be kept and used, like pencils or crayons.
Eat your pumpkin
Millions of pumpkins bought for Halloween are expected to go uneaten this year. With food waste being one of the biggest contributors to climate change, eating your pumpkin is a really simple way of reducing Halloween waste. Hubbub and Love Food Hate Waste have lots of recipes to use up your pumpkin instead of just throwing it away (and if you do throw it away, put it in your food caddy).
Learn how to cook delicious meals and snacks with your pumpkins with Love Food Hate Waste, or with Hubbub.
If you really don’t like pumpkin, try reusable lanterns. You don’t have to buy them; you can make your own by putting tea lights inside empty jars you have decorated.
Photo by David Menidrey on Unsplash
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