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5 tips to be EEK-o friendly this Halloween

With Halloween just around the corner, it's a great opportunity to discover how you can make fall's favorite spooky holiday that little bit greener. These tips can be applied at both work & home - whether you're hosting a ghoulish office party or taking the kids out trick-or-treating.

5 tips to make your Halloween greener

Compost your pumpkins

If you don't already compost, Halloween is a great time to start. Your Jack-o-lanterns, fallen Autumn leaves and party food scraps can all be collected in a food waste recycling bin. This will reduce the amount of trash that you send to the landfill and you'll also be left with a natural fertilizer for your yard.

Create your own costume

Instead of buying a brand new costume, consider using old clothes or items from around the house. You could also make a quick trip to your local thrift store, consignment store or yard sale that are bound to have some inexpensive clothing that you could use. By doing so, you can help to conserve resources and reduce your waste - alternatively, why not try swapping your spooky costumes with your neighbors or friends?

Stay close to home

If you're taking the kids out trick-or-treating, consider walking around your own neighborhood instead of driving to a different one. This removes the need of unnecessary fuel consumption and also reduces your vehicle's carbon footprint. On the other hand, if you're attending a party that's too far to walk, try and arrange a carpool with some friends.

Make your own decorations

Halloween is the second most decorated holiday of the year and one of the most spine-tingling things about plastic ghosts and goblins is how long they take to decompose in landfill. Consider getting inventive and create your own ghoulish decorations from items lying around your house such as cardboard boxes for tombs, old stockings for spider webs and white linen sheets for ghosts (a true classic).

Save for next year
Once you're Halloweened out, pack up your costumes and decorations away ready for next year's events. This will reduce the need to buy new stuff next year and can save you both time and money – it also means you're ready for an impromptu Halloween party at any moment!

Monday, October 10, 2016
NRPA Corporate Member The Green Web Foundation