Halloween should be scary and scary, but the scariest part of Halloween isn’t the costumes and the decorations, it’s the frightening amount of plastic candy wrappers that go to waste. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize the waste and make your Halloween more eco-friendly, while still being able to treat the kids and avoid the tricks.
Eco-friendly Halloween choices
When it comes to the environment, it’s all about the choices we make. For Halloween, minimizing trash can be a bit tricky, but it’s not impossible. Going zero-waste is not realistic, however. Giving out bite-sized candy requires bite-size wrapping. Every parent, no matter how eco-conscious, is going to be suspicious of unwrapped candy. That and homemade treats tend to end up in the trash, thanks to years of scary stories about tainted unwrapped Halloween candy. So, don’t create a bunch of food waste by giving out unwrapped candy and homemade treats.
Think inside the candy box
Instead of going for candy that is individually wrapped in plastic, look for candy that comes in tiny boxes. A cardboard box is much more eco-friendly. Think Jr. Mints, Dots, and Nerds. There are also raisins in a box, but do you want to be that neighbor that hands out healthy treats for Halloween. That’s the cruelest trick of all!
Aluminum foil candy wrappers
Candy wrapped in aluminum foil are also great options. This is great news since Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Reese’s Miniatures beat out all the other Halloween candy. Both are famously wrapped in foil, which can be recycled and may have already been recycled.
Bulk candy
If you are close with all of your neighbors and know the kids that are coming to the house, then you may be able to get away with creating candy bags. Buying candy in bulk at the candy shop or grocery store will eliminate a lot of tiny plastic wrappers. Find recyclable or reusable containers to create Trick or Treat candy boxes for the kids.
Sunrise Sanitation is always trying to make our services more sustainable and eco-friendly. We offer waste and recycling services for your home, business, and job-site in Maryland and West Virginia.
