It’s Halloween week! While this time of year brings candy, costumes, and hopefully some snow, it also brings a lot of waste. Costumes get thrown away every year, pumpkins aren’t disposed of properly, and thousands of plastic candy wrappers end up in our environment.
Around 85% of Halloween costumes end up in the landfill every year. On top of that, about 1 billion pounds of pumpkins end up in landfills every year.
But we’re not here to be the Halloween police. Here are some sustainable tips to keep costumes out of the landfill, get your pumpkins disposed of properly, and still leave you with a sack full of candy.
Thrift, Borrow, or Reimagine Your Costume
Thrifting is one of the biggest ways to cut down on Halloween waste. Yes, you’re still buying a costume (or pieces of one), but you’re giving new life to something that has plenty of use left in it. It’s good for the environment, and it’s good for your wallet too. Check out the Big Sky Thrift or head down the road. Here is a list of thrift stores in the Gallatin Valley.
Turn Your Pumpkin Seeds and Guts into a Yummy Treat
Most of a pumpkin is actually edible, our favorite treat is roasted pumpkin seeds. Separate the seeds from the pulp and dry them completely. Season them with sugar and cinnamon for something sweet, then bake for 20 to 45 minutes. You can also pan-fry them in melted butter with salt, pepper, or any seasoning you like for a perfect snack or a garnish for your favorite soup. You can also use leftover pumpkin to make dog treats or baked goods. Here are some other yummy pumpkin ideas.
Compost Your Pumpkins
If you’re anything like us, you were shocked to learn how many pumpkins end up in landfills each year. Luckily, there are resources to help change that. Every year, SNO hosts a pumpkin compost drop-off with YES Compost. This year, there will be bins to drop off your pumpkins from November 1st - 19th at the YES Compost bucket exchange in Town Center. If you're in Bozeman, YES Compost accepts pumpkins free of charge at their drop-off location in Belgrade. Happy Trashcan will also host their 11th annual pumpkin smash on November 7th at Storymill Park and Bozeman Sports Complex.
Decorate With What You Have
Halloween decorations are often cheaply made from plastic that isn’t recyclable or biodegradable, which means they usually end up in a landfill after the holiday. Instead, try making your own decorations from old cardboard boxes and paint. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Choose Sustainable Candy
Buying candy in recyclable packaging is an easy way to cut down on plastic wrappers. Nerds, Dots, Junior Mints, and anything in a small cardboard box are all options that can be recycled instead of sent to the landfill.
We understand that no one’s perfect, so we wanted to share a few easy swaps to make your Halloween a little more sustainable. Happy Halloween from the SNO team!