10/07/2026
We love Halloween, but it has a pretty trashy reputation: did you know that every year, Americans throw away 35 million costumes, most of which are made from cheap, synthetic fibers or plastic? 😬 We also trash one BILLION pounds of pumpkins after using them as spooky season decorations. That's seriously scary!
Try some of these more sustainable strategies to change that up this year:
👻 Make your own upcycled DIY decorations, like ghosts from old sheets, decorative pierced tin can lanterns, and paper creatures. Try to steer clear of plastic decorations, especially polyester spiderweb material, which traps and chokes wild birds.
🧥 Thrift or make your own Halloween costume out of stuff you already own, and express your creativity!
🍫 If your house is a trick-or-treat destination or you attend a trunk-or-treat, consider giving out candy wrapped in paper, cardboard, or recyclable foil, such as movie theater boxes (or fun size) of Junior Mints, Nerds, or Milk Duds. Tony’s Chocolonely is ethically sourced chocolate wrapped in recyclable paper and foil. You can also distribute paper bags containing a small candy and other non-plastic items like pencils, stickers, or crayons.
🎃 Compost your pumpkin after Halloween rather than throwing it in the trash! If you don't have home compost, all pumpkins (free of paint and wax) can be dropped off at Fairfax County’s I-66 and I-95 transfer stations or the Fairfax City composting center at City Hall.
🍽️ If you are throwing a party, don’t buy paper plates and plastic cups - consider borrowing a reusable party kit from Clean Fairfax to save money AND waste! Reserve your reusable party kit online at the Clean Fairfax website: https://cleanfairfax.org/reusable-party-kit/
