From costumes to decorations, the annual tradition of Halloween can promote over consumption, generating scary amounts of waste and creating unnecessary costs. Save money, connect with your community, and reduce your environmental impact this Halloween with these top ten circular Halloween tips.

While the annual Circular Economy Month campaign wraps-up on October 31st, we encourage you to continue learning about circular economy and taking actions (big or small!) in your daily life.

1. Keep it real

When decorating your front porch, skip the cheap plastic decorations. Keep it real and simple by sticking to pumpkins. As one of autumn’s seasonal crops, pumpkins are grown locally across Canada so don’t require much travelling to get to your home. Avoid drawing on your pumpkins with markers or paint to make sure they’re edible if you plan to cook them, or compost-friendly.

2. Reuse again and again

Looking to entertain your neighbourhood with more décor than pumpkins? Choose durable decor that is built for outside and will hold up in the cold, rainy October weather for many years. Consider purchasing secondhand in thrift stores, or on online platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji. Feel like getting creative? You can also make DIY decorations using materials from around the house.

3. Swap

Swap out your Halloween costumes from previous years for one that is new to you! Host a swap party with your friends prior to Halloween and include costumes in the mix.

4. Borrow

Don’t have anything to swap? Borrow a costume from a neighbour, family member or friend. You could also see if there are any costume rental services in your community.

5. Get creative

Avoid purchasing a brand new costume that you’ll only wear once. Since they are made to be used once, the packaged ones are often cheaply made. These can shed microplastics and only last one or two uses. Instead, get creative and see how you can craft the perfect costume using items you already have at home or found at a thrift store.

6. Plastic-free treats

It can be tricky to avoid treats wrapped in plastic at Halloween, but it is possible! If hosting a Halloween party, serve treats in reusable dishes and purchase snacks in bulk. For trick-or-treaters, try finding candy wrapped in paper packaging. Some of our favourites that come in recyclable cardboard containers are Smarties and nerds!

7. Use up your pumpkin

Pumpkins are packed with vitamins and fibre and can be cooked many different ways, so don’t let them go to waste! When carving pumpkins, don’t forget to roast the seeds as a delicious snack, or use them to grow microgreens. If you don’t feel like processing your pumpkins, consider calling your local farms to see if they can be used as animal feed, or choose to compost them if there are no farm upcycling opportunities near you.

8. Get around sustainably

Consider the more sustainable option when travelling around to Halloween festivities. Taking your children out trick-or-treating? Connect with your neighbours by staying in your neighbourhood and walking. Going to an event or party? Consider carpooling with a friend, ride-sharing, or taking public transit.

9. Compost

Remember to always compost any scraps from pumpkin carving or leftovers from Halloween gatherings.

10. Donate to the community

Have gently used costumes, Halloween decorations, or warm clothes around your house that you no longer need? Have leftover canned goods from Thanksgiving? Consider giving them away to people in need and donating to a local charity. With the changing seasons and upcoming holidays, these types of items are often high demand this time of year.

Do you have any go-to tips for your sustainable holiday seasons? Let us know by posting on social media #CircularEconomyMonth!