Halloween can be a frightfully wasteful time of year. In fact it’s the second most wasteful time of year after Christmas. But exactly what is going to waste and how can we make our celebrations more sustainable? Here’s the lowdown on the spooky season’s biggest waste monsters:
- 30 million pumpkins purchased, with 15.8 million of them estimated to go uneaten after Halloween.
- An estimated 46 million Halloween-themed items thrown away each year, including costumes, decorations and disposable party supplies.
- Research by Asda found the average Halloween host buys 2.4kg of sweets per household – that’s a lot of plastic wrappers!
We’re sure you agree that these figures are truly ghastly! The fang-tastic news is there are so many great ways to slash your waste. Don’t worry there’s no tricks here… just tips for reducing Halloween waste!
Carve away food waste
Make yourself something hearty, filling and nutritious! If your pumpkin flesh is a rich orange colour and dense in texture it’s good to eat, if it’s not, the seeds can still be used. Pumpkins can be transformed into soups, curries, lattes and more! Check out Love Food Hate Waste’s recipes for some tasty inspiration.
Pumpkins should never be left out or dumped as they can pose a serious risk to wildlife. Eating pumpkins can cause stomach upset and dehydration in some animals, while carved pumpkins may contain candle wax or even paint and glitter that can be harmful to wildlife and the wider environment.
Instead, any leftover pumpkins that cannot be eaten, should be recycled in your food waste caddy. Did you know, after collection food waste is used to generate electricity, heat and transport fuel?
Swap your scaries, reuse and save
According to recent YouGov research, 57% of Halloween celebrators across Britian plan just one week in advance. If that sounds like you, take a beat and resist the urge to do a last-minute shopping haul. There are great alternatives that are better for the environment and for your pocket too!
Dig out an old costume and rescue your trick-or-treating gear from the back of the cupboard. If you don’t fancy resurrecting an old look, why not swap costumes with friends, family or even online?
Hosting a party? Don’t stress about having perfectly creepy party supplies. Get creative with what you already have, dust off your old decorations and remember, haunted houses don’t need plastic cups and paper plates to be spooky! Opting for reusable tableware can help reduce waste without taking the fright out of your festivities.
If you do need extra scary supplies, pop to your local charity shop to see what hidden gems you can find. You’ll be helping to reduce waste, save money and support your local community. Find your nearest location on our zero waste map.
Tricky treats to recycle
Don’t let plastic wrappers haunt your recycling bin. Sweet and chocolate wrappers can’t be placed in your recycling bin at home, but you may be able to take them to a local supermarket to be recycled. Otherwise, they should go in your rubbish bin.
You can find local stores with customer recycling points by visiting our zero waste map.
You have the power to make this Halloween a little less frightening for the environment. Think twice before buying new, make the most of leftover food, and always check what can be recycled locally. To learn how to recycle an item near you, visit our online search tool.