Americans spend over 7 billion dollars on Halloween, buy 600 million pounds of candy, and send 41 million pounds of waste to the landfills.  We can do better.

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1. Don't use plastic bag or container for Halloween when going door to door

2. Find Halloween treats that aren't each individually wrapped Read More

3. Recycle candy snack wrappers with a zero waste box from TerraCycle Read More

4. Look for Halloween decorations at the farmers market instead of plastics 

5. Use natural candles in your pumpkins 

6. Purchase organic pumpkins Read More

7. Sponsor a Halloween costumer swap instead of buying new ones Read More

8. Use non-toxic face paints and makeup for Halloween costumes 

9. Choose organic non-GMO halloween candy to give Read More

10. Use non-plastic trick-or-treat Halloween bags and totes for the candy Read More

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11. Use solar lighting for your outdoor Halloween displays 

12. Use real plates, cups and utensils for your Halloween party 

13. Don't hand out gobs of candy - one will suffice Read More

14. Save and reuse the stuff from last year and the year before 

15. Purchase costumes and costume material from thrift shops

16. Use edible pumpkins, paint instead of carving and then eat it afterward Read More

17. Compost your left over candy 

18. Donate leftover candies Read More

19. Use torn stockings for spider web material 

20. Use cardboard boxes for tombstones Read More

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21. Before throwing old clothes out think about Halloween 

22. Walk your neighborhood instead of traveling elsewhere 

23. Purchase Halloween decorations made from recycled materials Read More

24. Use beeswax or soy candles to light up your jack-o-lanterns 

25. Recycle candy wrappers into a craft project Read More

26. If you don't eat your jack-o-lantern use a watermelon instead Read More

27. Make Halloween a do-it-yourself project with the kids Read More

28. Give out fair trade candy Read More

29. give out vegan sugar cookies 

30. Give out dark chocolates instead of milk chocolates Read More

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31. Give out unwrapped treats Read More

32. Opt for small non-plastic gifts at Halloween instead of candy 

33. Create an eco-themed costume for Halloween Read More

34. If you don't eat the seeds compost the insides of pumpkins 

35. Donate costumes instead of throwing away Read More

36. Instead of trick or treat look for local sustainable Halloween events Read More

37. Use a solar light inside your pumkins 

38. Use on line invitations to Halloween parties 

39. Make recycling bins prominent and well marked at Halloween parties 

40. Bring along a litter bag when trick or treating to police area 

Bob Kihslinger

41. Reverse trick or treating - hand fair trade chocolates to people at the door Read More

42. Have organic and colorful menu for Halloween 

43. Throw a green Halloween party 

44. Have vegan treats for Halloween Read More

45. Trick or treat for pennies to support a green cause Read More

46. Put Halloween lighted decorations on a timer 

47. If not solar make sure Halloween lighted decorations are LED 

48. If using flashlights while trick or treating make them shakable Read More

49. Keep away from Halloween Super Stores and their costumes