halloween
Photos courtesy of RLP Studios
green halloween by Brenna Burke
Kids are settling into school, the leaves are beginning to turn, and the apples are just begging to be plucked from their branches at the local farms. We all know what this means. It’s time to start thinking about Halloween! It is great to start thinking early about Halloween to make it as green as possible.
Top 5 Tips for a Green Halloween: 1. Reuse, reuse, reuse Reusing costumes, pieces of costumes, or items from around the house is a great green way to save money. If you don’t have what you need, chances are someone else does. Talk to friends, neighbors, check out your local consignment or thrift shop, or try to find (or host one yourself ) a costume swap for National Costume Swap Day 2012 on Oct. 13. Find out more: (greenhalloween. org/CostumeSwap/register.html). Avoid plastic which is typically cheaply made with potentially toxic chemicals like PVC or phthalates and can’t be recycled.
20 | NW Kids Magazine
2. Eco-friendly treat bags Any reusable bag will do, but if you want to get a little more creative there are plenty of crafty options. Reusable organic cotton bags or old pillowcases are perfect for kids who love to paint. Eco-friendly felt can easily be stitched into a simple bag and any shape, face, or decoration added to the front. Old towels can also make a fun and fuzzy treat bag.
3. Green decorations The first line in an eco-friendly defense against Halloween waste is to reuse what you already have. Borrow other elements from nature that can be dressed up and spookified: pumpkins, gourds, pinecones, sticks and twigs, autumn leaves, and straw bales. Light the way with solar lights, beeswax or GMO-free soy candles inside jack o’ lanterns and luminaries, or LED candle alternatives and string lights. Then turn the kids loose making fun spiders and ghosts from recycled materials like old sheets, egg cartons, and paper scraps.
4. Minimize waste when the fun is done Avoid anything that is designed for only one use. If it can’t be reused at least make sure it can be recycled or composted. Definitely