What is your biggest fear this Halloween season? Ghouls and ghosts? Witches on broomsticks? Zombies and skeletons? What about a warming planet?
Climate change is not a trick– but it’s also no treat. Every year the temperature of the planet rises due to human impact. When we burn fossil fuels– or support the companies that do– we contribute to climate change and warming temperatures… Now THAT is scary.
“But hey, how can I do anything about it? I’m not burning fossil fuels or dumping garbage down the drain?” Great question random reader… let’s talk about it!
Halloween typically begins the annual overconsumption epidemic that surrounds the holidays– costumes worn once, single-use decorations, and biodegradable leaves and pumpkins bagged for landfills. After these items are used and tossed into the garbage, they eventually make their way to the landfill. Landfills are notorious for accumulating methane (a greenhouse gas that is responsible for warming the planet) and only increase their emissions as the landfill grows. Finding ways to reduce their growth (AKA, not throwing things in the garbage) can help slow warming temperatures and better the environment. Now, what does this have to do with Halloween?
When I first think about Halloween, one word comes to mind– “Costumes.” Culture today often encourages a different costume for each Halloween appearance, requiring unique and expendable costume pieces (I myself have 2 costumes this year and do not judge). One of the best, and easiest, ways to reduce waste from costumes is to re-wear them! Creating unique outfits that reuse pieces and parts between costumes can reduce the amount of waste and provide each garment with a second life. Thrifting and/or sharing with friends are also great ways to reuse items.
Costumes are not the only things going to waste after the Halloween season. Decorations, including jack-o-lanterns, often get tossed with the rest of the garbage at the end of the holiday. Reusable decorations that can be stored easily and used from year to year are great additions to the spooky season, while still reducing waste. Pumpkins and their seeds can also be composted to create fresh soil, instead of in a garbage bag taking up space at the landfill. Similarly, raking leaves into bags and throwing them out, versus leaving them to degrade on their own, can create other unnecessary emissions in landfills.
This Halloween, don’t let waste haunt you! Rewear, compost, and get creative — small actions can make a big impact. After all, the scariest thing this season isn’t a ghost… it’s an overheated planet.