Autumn is considered the season of change; temperatures are cooling, the leaves are changing colors, and the season changes from a time of abundance to scarcity. This is a great opportunity to challenge yourself to try a new approach to celebrating Halloween with family and friends. The scariest part of Halloween for me is all of the plastic we are wasting. I want to enjoy the candy extravaganza and costume parties without the guilt of waste, so I've done some research and made some changes, it's not perfect, but it's a journey as I move closer to living a plastic-free life. I hope you can incorporate some of these tricks as you celebrate the treats Halloween.
Costumes
Whether you need a costume for a child or an adult, costumes made from big box chain stores are typically made of cheap petroleum based materials. Not only are the costumes packaged in plastic, they are typically made of polyester or vinyl, and often contain harmful chemicals which are extremely flammable. These costumes usually end up in the landfill after one use because they are made of low quality material designed not to last- this is an example of fast fashion. A great alternative is to reuse old costumes, share costumes with friends, use thrift stores to make your own costume, buy handmade costumes from stores such as ETSY, or rent a costume from your local party store. The last two options support local businesses and a circular economy. Challenging yourself to try one of these alternatives will inspire you to be creative, connect with friends to swap costumes, and even save money as you search through your own closet for ideas. 
**Left photo courtesy of staffer Emily Obringer and her partner dressed in homemade costumes as characters from Disney film, A Bug's Life. Right photo courtsey of staffer Nathan Alley and his adorable children dressed in homemade costumes. Powers is dressed as an orca and Silverbell is dressed as a witch.
Candy Buckets
Whether you are handing out candy or your child is receiving candy as they trick-or-treat this is an easy area to go plastic-free. Instead of using a plastic jack-o-lantern for trick-or-treating kids can use items from home: a pillow case, tote bag, lunch bag, backpack, etc. You can even decorate unused pillowcases to match your child's costume. If you are handing out candy and don't want to use a glass or more expensive reusable items such as wood or stainless steel bowls, opt for cardboard, a basket, or get creative and use the inside of a hollowed out pumpkin. You likely have these items on hand at home, no need to worry about filling the landfill with plastic, look around your house for ideas.
Halloween Candy
Let's start off by saying, nearly all candy wrappers (including foil wrappers) cannot be recycled. This is because the wrappers are made out of a metalized plastic and aluminum which is impossible to separate. That means most Halloween waste goes to the landfill, incinerator, or finds its way to the ocean. There are a few companies, such as TerraCycle, who claim to recycle similar wrappers, but they have yet to prove successful in their claims. This year try swapping out a portion of your Halloween candy with more sustainable options. Maybe this year try to work towards 25% sustainable, or pick an amount that is comfortable for you. Below is a list of sustainable ideas for trick-or-treaters, you may not be a hit with the neighborhood kids, but I guarantee you there will not be a shortage of sugar on Halloween, and their parents will appreciate one less candy bar in the house.