-Sara Johnson, Sustainable Business Accounts Manager

Halloween can generate a lot of unnecessary waste and unsustainable behavior between the temporary decorations, cheap costumes, candy wrappers and parties.  Here are a few actions I've taken this week to make my Halloween festivities a little greener.

Lots of the co-ops are selling locally-grown pumpkins, so of course I picked up a few of those to carve and put on my porch. Once they've lost their charm, I'll just toss them into my big compost pile rather than my trash bin. My mom re-gifted me one of her favorite Halloween decorations, a huge orange bag with a jack-o-lantern face to put your leaves into. Although the bag is plastic, my mom has lovingly cared for this big guy since the early eighties; the fact that I am able to reuse it now is pretty top-notch. When I am done displaying it out front, I'll drag the leaves to the back to put in my compost pile throughout the fall and winter.

Rather than buy a new costume at one of those Halloween super stores, I am opting to make one at home using what I've got. For the things I need to buy, I'm heading over to Arc's Value Village, Everyday People and Savers to get them secondhand. With a little creativity, I will transform into a low-waste, low-cost super beet! (Beets are the new witch this year.)

It's too bad we are past the days of giving out caramel apples and popcorn balls. I am unsure how to get beyond the waste and unhealthy nature of giving out Halloween candy. As I'd rather not be the house giving out dental floss, I'd welcome any ideas from readers.

Have a very happy, very green Halloween!

Image credit: Amanito/Creative Commons