Halloween is a time for costumes, candy, and creativity. Unfortunately, it's also a time when single-use plastics tend to creep into our celebrations. But fear not, as there are simple and effective ways to reduce your plastic footprint this spooky season while still enjoying the magic of the holiday.
Reusable Decor: Swap disposable plastic decorations for reusable options. Decorate your home with fabric banners, paper lanterns, or DIY crafts that can be stored and used year after year. My family has a collection of beautiful glass-blown pumpkin that come from our Aunt in Seattle.
Eco-Friendly Treat Bags: Reuse that plastic candy bucket year after year, or opt for your reusable tote bags. Use paper bags versus plastic treat bags. You can even paint and personalize your container for an added fun touch. Does anyone remember using your pillow case as a candy bag?
Sustainable Costumes: Avoid buying cheap, disposable costumes made from plastic. Instead, create your own outfit or swap costumes with friends. Thrift stores are treasure troves of costume possibilities.
Party Responsibly: If you're hosting a Halloween party, serve drinks in glass and use real cutlery and dishes. Avoid plastic tablecloths and opt for fabric or recycled paper alternatives.
Recycle Your Candy Wrappers: Candy wrappers are made from a mix of materials, which makes it hard and expensive for facilities to turn them into useful materials. That's where the Rubicon and Trash or Treasure™ box comes in. Rubicon, a leading provider of waste and recycling solutions, will take your candy wrappers and recycle what is possible in to plastic pellets. The plastic pellets from the candy wrappers is used to create doggy bags for local animal shelters.
From November 1 through November 30, you can bring your candy wrappers to Mission Refill and we will put them in our Trash or Treasure™ box.
Americans spent a whopping $36.9 billion on candy, with more than 600 million pounds dedicated to Halloween alone. By making these simple swaps, you can enjoy Halloween while taking a step towards a greener, more sustainable future.
