Boo! It's a Planet-friendly Fun Filled Halloween

Trick-or-treat! Don't Trick-and-trash! Take a look at the tips below for having a happy "green" Halloween. Ideas for more planet-friendly costumes, decorations, candies, and trick or treating and more, are all explained below. I have even included some safety tips for you and your children.

May you and your family have and enjoyable, safe and eco-friendly Halloween.

Please feel free to vote, add your own green tips and/or pass this lens along to your family and friends.

One great way to cut down on Halloween waste is to use hand-me down costumes. Do you have neighbors, family members, friends or freecycle members that can hand down a costume they have used in the past to your children or you (if you dress up to). Not only does this reduce waste, it saves you money.

Another option is the old fashioned way- make your own costume out of recycled material. There are hundreds of ideas online.

Also don't forget to pass on your costumes to other children or adults so they can reduce on Halloween waste.

If carving pumpkins is a huge tradition in your family buy an local or organic pumpkin. Carve and cut it as you need. Set the seeds aside and eat them, dry them and set them out (along with the pumpkin goo) for the birds to eat, or plant a few in the ground to grow your own pumpkins for next year.

To eat them bake them at 300° with light seasoning (salt is good enough for me). When they toast slightly pull them out, let them cool and then eat them.

When October is over add your carved pumpkin to your compost bin. If you don't have a compost bin you can start one. Rake up the fall leaves. Put them in a pile back in the corner and add you pumpkin. Every could of days turn it.
If you don't have time for a compost bin you can give your pumpkin to someone you know that does have a compost bin. I would be happy to take you pumpkins.

You can also just sit the pumpkin outside with bird food inside for the birds.

One last option. Leave your pumpkin sitting outside as is and watch it slowly decay. If you have kids this is a great science experience. Take pictures every few days and after a few weeks show the pictures to your kids side by side.

Do you really have to buy another plastic pumpkin bucket for trick or treating? No! Any tote, pillow case, basket, etc... you have around the house will make good trick or treat carriers. Decorate it a bit with the Halloween to give it a bit of a Halloween flare.

Also avoid using plastic bags for your trick or treating rounds. Aside from their negative effect on the environment they are not very durable. They catch on items and tear. Or the weight of too much candy can tear them too. What a mess!

Take your kids trick or treating by foot. Cut down on car pollution and walk. Besides it is healthier to walk and in my opinion it is more enjoyable. It is also safer. If a stranger tries to pull your kid in you will get to him a lot quicker on foot because you are closer and other trick or treating cars will not be in your way.

Like most tips on this lens- reuse what you have first. What ever decor you used last year use it again, but change it up a bit. It gets a little boring seeing the same 4 or 5 ghost in your front yard every single years. How about this year you add 1 or 2 scarecrow (made with old tattered clothes and fallen leaves) and then paint the ghost so that it really looks scary or friendly this year. Either would be nice. While you are at it add a few solar powered Halloween lights like these or whatever you like.

If you don't have decor get some from thrift stores, resale shops, Goodwill, family and friends that are bored of their old decorations. Also turn to freecycle and Craigslist for more free Halloween decor possibilities.

If you are having a party use recycled or sustainable napkins, dishes, utensils, party favors, etc.

Don't worry I didn't forget about the candy. There are eco- alternatives for candy too. There are organic chocolates, treats, cookies etc. Some, not all come at a high prices so search around for good deals. Just because they are organic doesn't mean they are healthy candies, it just means they are healthier for the kids and planet-friendly.

Like I mentioned earlier you also have the option of handing out other sorts of eco-treats (pencils, notepads, stickers, etc). Some kids like the younger kids will appreciate this. Some older kids will too, but of course some will be disappointed. Aren't they disappointed about everything at that age though! :)