The holiday is a great opportunity to reduce, reuse and recycle.

By: Alina Jaffer

It’s that time of year again. Glowing jack o’lanterns pop up on porches around the neighbourhood. Retail stores set their speakers to play weird “Monster Mash” covers around the clock. And somehow, every coffee and baked good is suddenly pumpkin-spiced.

All signs point to the beloved spooky season. Unfortunately, as Halloween approaches, so do mounds of trash created by single-use decorations and costumes.

Worrying about wastefulness may bog down what is meant to be a light-hearted cause for celebration. Luckily, there are some sustainable ways to enjoy a guilt-free and fun-filled Halloween night in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Repurpose decorations

Schools and daycares are the perfect place to donate used decorations. This Halloween, ask your child or sibling’s teachers if the drama department could use some extra props. Maybe you’ll spot some of your repurposed items in the next school play!

Believe it or not, donatable decor is not limited to garden ornaments. A public library and historical society in Oakville, Ont. make donating carved pumpkins easy with the Oakville Pumpkin Parade.

Simply bring your masterpieces to the Oakville Museum’s Erchless Estate on Nov. 1. After a night of crafting and storytelling, event organizers will give the pumpkins to local farms where the fruits are used as animal feed!

Mississauga’s Bradley Museum is hosting a similar pumpkin-recycling event also on Nov. 1. The organization invites locals to drop off pumpkins, enjoy hot cider and complete a scavenger hunt.

Participate in a costume swap

This year, instead of buying a new costume for each party, try swapping looks with someone else. You’ll save money and reduce consumption without ever repeating outfits.

Local libraries and fashion interest groups tend to host costume swap events throughout October.

Or, host your own costume swap with family and friends. Guests will appreciate the chance to get into the Halloween spirit while putting old costumes to good use.

Make a meal out of your pumpkin

According to the CBC, Canadian farms produce 80,000 metric tonnes of pumpkins, two-thirds of which are sold fresh to customers. Most use these pumpkins as decor before swiftly tossing them in the bin.

There’s no need to throw out seeds and chunks after carving pumpkins; repurpose them instead! Sprinkle salt over the seeds, heat up the oven and enjoy them as a healthy snack. Then, turn the chunks into a delicious puree which can be kept in a freezer for months.

After making the most out of your pumpkin, compost any remains. And remember: how you purchase a pumpkin is equally important as how you dispose of one.

Buy pumpkins from nearby farms

Earth Day Canada says buying locally grown gourds is an easy way to ensure a smaller ecological footprint. Local foods also tend to taste fresher and have more nutrients.

So, a visit to the nearest pumpkin patch may be worth the trip after all!

PumpkinFest at Downey’s Farm Market is running until Halloween night in Caledon, Ont. Their website promises wagon rides, live entertainment and—of course—plenty of pumpkins.

 Donate used costumes

Research from the University of Waterloo says Canadians trash about a billion pounds of fashion and home items made of fabric each year.

Instead of contributing to this spooky statistic, give your costumes a second life. Donation centres, including Goodwill, will accept your lightly used Cinderella dresses, fairy wings and skeleton onesies—so long as you adhere to the organization’s guidelines.

 Goodwill says the smart way to donate is by washing any clothing items, testing battery-operated items and including all pieces of children’s toys. Broken, soiled and recalled items, however, will be turned away. So, be sure to remove chocolate and candy stains from your costumes before giving them away!

These no-brainer tips and tricks are your key to sustainable and spooky Halloween celebrations.