Traditionally the time of year when the environment is forgotten, Down District Council has some suggestions for a more environmentally-friendly Halloween break!
1. Children can trade Halloween costumes with their friends to get something ‘new’ and different to wear, or make your own costumes from old clothes found around the house or from charity shops.
2. When the little ghosts and goblins in your family go trick-or-treating this Halloween, make sure they carry a reusable bag or containers.
3. When neighbourhood ghouls show up at your door, give them treats that also treat the environment gently. Choose treats such as apples, that use little or no packaging. Whenever possible buy locally.
4. Rather than driving the kids trick-or-treating, stick close to home this Halloween and walk from house to house to reduce fuel consumption and air pollution.
5. Once pumpkin and turnip lanterns have been carved, the flesh can be used in pies, soups, or other dishes. You can also roast the pumpkin seeds and serve them to your guests as a special Halloween treat. Check out www.lovefoodhatewaste.com
6 .Use dishes, cutlery, napkins and tablecloths that can be washed and reused instead of disposable plastic and paper tableware.
7. Use recycled and recyclable materials to create your Halloween decorations. Home made lanterns made from tin cans, or even unused costumes hung around the walls will create the right atmosphere without investing in even more decorations.
8. If you don’t already compost, Halloween is a great time to start. You can add post-Halloween lanterns to your compost bin to reduce the amount of waste you send to landfill, Compost creates excellent soil for your garden. Home Compost bins are available at just £5 from Down District Council.
