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4 Ways To Green Your Halloween: Reusable Bags for Trick or Treating

When it comes to that all-important Halloween question, “How should I lug around my candy-loot this year?” the Zero Waste Communities wants you to know that there is more than one answer.

 

Disposable plastic bags are kind of like the zombies of the bag world; an army roaming the earth long after their regular life ended, practically indestructible yet slowly decaying. Plus these monsters can be a choking threat to wildlife—or small children! And worst of all, unless you or your kid decides to dress as Oscar the Grouch or some other garbage creature, an old plastic grocery bag can really trash a great costume.
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Instead, by getting into the spirit of a green Halloween you can save money, natural resources, and your street cred all at once! With little to no extra effort (or face paint) the only waste you’ll need to deal with is the pile of mini-candy wrappers. Check out these four not-so-scary ways to green your Halloween this year:

1. For buckets of fun, metal pails are like safe deposit boxes for candy, and plush versions can be personalized into fun or spooky shapes to be used year-after-year.
2. Nothing beats an old burlap sack in terms of usability and classic Halloween style. They are sturdy yet inexpensive (in bulk or as material), versatile enough to go with cute, classic or creepy costumes and carry produce just as well as processed chocolate.
3. Cloth or polyester tote bags come in a wide variety of styles that can match to the season or to a costume and then transition to fit your day-to-day shopping after the candy is gone.
4. If you forget to grab a reusable bag or metal pail, you can use something you’ve already got lying around the house—a pillowcase! They’re soft, easy to wash and adorable for a first-Halloween.

With the start of October, take a couple extra minutes (or weeks) and maybe set aside some pocket change to find a bag-trick that will make this holiday, and every day after it, a zero waste treat for everyone.

Do you have any zero waste ideas for Halloween? Share one idea with us in the comments section below!
*Photo courtesy of The Cozy Pumpkin.
 

Going Native: How Organic Gardening Reduces Household Waste

Summer is almost here and that means a lot of us are getting our gardens and yards in tip-top shape. Did you know that planting native plants around your home can dramatically reduce the amount of waste you end up producing? It's true! Here's why.

 



If your household is like 78 million other homes in the United States, you likely use some pesticides and herbicides on your landscaping, in your garden or on your lawn. Herbicides alone count for the majority of these applications, a whopping 90 million pounds are applied per year! The less we use of these types of chemicals on our yards, the less risk we have of them being disposed of improperly and the less we have to dispose of overall. Unfortunately, a lot of these pesticides and herbicides end up in our trash and then our landfills. As a result, they can make their way into our drinking water supplies and even our waterways.

 



If you do choose to use pesticides and herbicides, please dispose of excess chemicals by taking them to your local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facilities. To learn more visit our page on HHW, or give a call to 1-800-OILY-CAT for a location near year. While you are at it, remember that HHW facilities also take items such as batteries, paint, pool supplies, hobby chemicals, motor oil and furniture polish.

 



So you don't have time to trek to the HHW facility? Go native!  There are dozens of plants that are native to your area and don't need pesticides or fertilizers to thrive. As a result you will not need to dispose of these types of chemicals because you won't have to buy any to begin with!

 



Check out the cool video below on the top . The bottom line is this: the less maintenance your lawns and yards require, the less waste is produced.

 


 

 

 
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