How to have a green Halloween

Halloween is the season for ghosts, goblins, costumes, and candy.  But is there a way to celebrate a green Halloween, which, of course, is still spooky and fun for all?

A great organization called Green Halloween tells us absolutely yes.  In this interview with Lynn Colwell of Green Halloween, we learned lots of tips and tricks for how to green up this ghoulish holiday.

The three R's for Halloween from Green Halloween:

Reduce -- Instead of handing out handfuls of candy to each little ghost and goblin, consider giving just one of something.

You’ll save money and your decision will likely be better for the health of the children who come to your door (since they’ll consume less) and for the planet since fewer resources will go into the making, packaging, transporting, and/or disposal of the treat.

Reuse -- Halloween could be the poster child for reusing. Nearly every aspect of the holiday can be celebrated in style without buying a single thing new.

So don’t rush out to buy costumes, decor, and party games. Instead, stop and think. What can be reused or repurposed to make this holiday a smash hit without costing the planet?

Rent, borrow, or construct costumes from existing materials. Making Halloween costumes from scratch can increase the fun factor, too.

Keep your lawn ghouls and orange LED lights year after year. You might get tired of seeing them, but guaranteed, you’re building a tradition -- one the kids in your home and neighborhood will remember. You wouldn’t want to mess with good memory-making, now would you?

Recycle -- The best way to utilize the third and final R is to first choose items that are made from recycled content instead of buying products made from raw or virgin materials. And when the product you’ve bought or acquired can no longer be used, it should be recycled.

Recycling can happen in many ways such as through your waste management company, your compost pile (yes, most food can be recycled), or through your own creativity. Breathe new life into your husband’s old flannel shirt and jeans, for example, by recycling them into a scarecrow for your front porch or a costume for your ten-year-old.

And no matter what, always, always, compost made-by-nature Halloween decor such as wilting pumpkins and gourds instead of throwing them in the trash. Uneaten Halloween candy can also be “recycled,” just be sure to remove the wrappers first.

Green Halloween tells us it's easy to celebrate green:

Busy parents need greening to be simple. Whatever the choice may be (goodies, costumes, decor, etc.), adding an eco-friendly twist shouldn’t increase stress and chaos to an already hectic holiday season. But making healthy and green choices is, in fact, easier than it seems.

The key is thinking (and acting) outside the conventional candy box:

1. Plan ahead. Halloween can be a fairly last-minute holiday, resulting in a lot of knee-jerk choices that aren’t good for kids or the planet. But if you make a habit of thinking ahead, you can find exactly what you want while saving time and energy and reducing stress.
   
   One idea is to create a reoccurring appointment in your calendar for each October 1st. Decide what you are going to give away this year and, if necessary, order it online or pick it up. If you have the bandwidth to coordinate with a few friends or co-workers, you can save money by buying online, splitting the quantities and dividing the shipping charges. If the recycled plastic tops or eco-themed temporary tattoos are a hit, make it easier on yourself by giving the same thing away next year. (Make your green goodies a tradition.)


2. Hand out less. We supersize everything in the U.S. When our kids were small, they were handed one or two candies. Nowadays, the average child hauls home about 10 pounds! When you plan to hand out less, you buy less (saving money), and there is less waste because very few kids (or families) will consume that 10 pounds and most gets thrown out.


3. Take a different road. Who said goodies have to be bought at grocery stores? Most of us run out to the grocery store the night before Halloween to pick up that 10 pound bag of candy (or two), but what if we realized that great, green goodies can be found elsewhere, too?
   
   What about picking up some seeds while you’re at the nursery? Or some cool glass beads when you drive by the art supply store? Playing cards with magic tricks, recipes, and Halloween jokes can be found at bookstores and toy stores.


4. Avoid buying decor. Halloween is the second biggest holiday for the sale of decor after Christmas. It's a billion-dollar bonanza. Why?
   
   It's so easy for kids to use their imagination (with adult help of course). Or scour the Internet. You'll be shocked and delighted about the simple, free ideas. And if you can't resist buying, make it something handmade, made from recycled/recyclable materials or plan to keep it for a long time and turn it into a Halloween tradition.


5. Include the kids. Going green is a family affair, so make it easier on yourself and include the kids by asking for their ideas. When they’re involved from the get-go, they’re more like to stay involved and to have positive attitudes.


6. Relax. Going green isn’t an all or nothing deal, and busy moms have a lot on their minds and plates. So start with simple green steps that will work for your family this year. You can always add more the next time around. Holidays should be about the fun, not about the stress. Even green choices, if stressful, won’t be sustainable over the long haul.

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