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Have A Green Halloween With These 5 Easy Eco-Friendly Tips!


Blog by Jeff Fitzpatrick | October 14th, 2011


Halloween is spooky by nature, but it doesn’t have to be a scary time for Mother Nature! These days, it’s all about going green. So why not incorporate a little more green into your Halloween? Here are easy 5 tips to get you started!

Pumpkins

1.    Skip the Plastic and Paper Bags
With so many stores handing out reusable bags, there’s no need to use paper or plastic for hauling all those goodies home. Not only are cloth and canvas bag environmentally friendly, but they’re kid-friendly too! Don’t have any reusable bags lying around? Use a pillowcase or purchase blank canvas bags and some paint, and let the little ones go wild!

2.    Mr. Jack-O-Lantern
Support your local farmers by purchasing your pumpkins from a local pumpkin patch. There are plenty in and around Vancouver (just Google)! This would make a great family outing and be extremely fun for the kids – they’ll want to go every year! After carving your pumpkins, don’t throw out the seeds. Clean, salt and roast them for a real treat! And when it’s all said and done, don’t forget to recycle/compost old Jack!

3.    Use Candles and LED Lights
Candles flickering in the night add to the spooky feel of Halloween. This year, forget the lights and line your walkway with dimly lit Jack-O’-Lanterns. Be sure to use 100% beeswax or soy candles, which last longer, are renewable, and burn cleaner than regular candles. If you’re set on using lights as part of your decor, use LED lights. LED lights last 133 times longer and cost 80% less to use than incandescent lights.

4.    Halloween Decorations
Save money and the environment by reusing old decorations, purchasing from a second-hand store or borrowing from friends and family. Halloween decorations, like all holiday decor, should be a one-time purchase that you use every year. Keep the decorations properly stored and they’ll last you for years to come!

5.    Walk Instead of Drive
Instead of driving to other neighbourhoods for trick-or-treating, stick close to home and take the kids around your area. Walking from house-to-house reduces fuel consumption and air pollution, and you’ll probably bump into several neighbours and their kids, making it that much more fun! Better yet, plan ahead of time to trick-or-treat with several neighbours and their kids!