Green Halloween: Keep things eco-friendly

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, but unfortunately, the standard celebrations are often out of line with my ethics. For example, almost everything associated with Halloween is disposable, single-serving, or synthetic. Eek! To me, needless waste is a whole lot scarier than ghosts or goblins.

I've been doing this for years, scrapping together costumes from my own or secondhand clothes, but it seems especially important now that I'm a mother. I love to make my son's costumes via creative repurposing. For example, on his first Halloween he was only 7 months old, so that year I painted an old bike helmet to look like a turtle shell, and strapped it to his back. He had just mastered crawling and it was perfect! Last year I sewed him a little owl outfit out of old sweatshirts, and I made myself a "Freudian Slip". I love these homemade costumes and I love that we'll always be one-of-kind.

In lieu of a costume swap, make sure you save your costume to be used again, either by you or another family member. Alternatively, you can donate it to a local theatre or charity. Whatever you do, don't throw it away!

Depending on your community, you may be able to make your own treats (think baked goods or roasted pumpkin seeds or popcorn balls) and wrap them in paper which can be recycled. If you don't think the parents in your neighborhood will go for that, you can at least make sure to hand out healthier treats, free from high-fructose corn syrup, chemical coloring, and artificial flavors. Check Trader Joe's and Whole Foods for organic options.

Instead of buying the plastic premade stuff, you can make your own fun decorations using recyclable materials like cardboard, newspaper, and aluminum foil. This doubles as an afternoon project for the kids!

You can also use nature to decorate, as it's all around and beautiful this time of year. Try a spread of brightly colored leaves, pumpkins and fancy gourds, etc. For the adventurous and extra-crafty, you can fashion an autumn-inspired door wreath.

Yeah, the orange pumpkin pail is cute and nostalgic, but it's made of cheap plastic and it's leeching BPA. Instead, go old school and collect your candy in a pillowcase or wicker basket.

If you think you'll need extra light while trick-or-treating, make sure you pick out an LED flashlight. They also make LED head lamps, which is great for parents who need to go hands-free. If you're passing out candy, light the way for trick-or-treaters with an LED porch light and LED or solar-powered lamps along your pathway.

Most commercial candles are made from paraffin, which is a petroleum product. For your jack-o-lantern or other decorations, choose fragrance-free soy candles instead.

If you plan to throw a Halloween bash, make sure that you provide visible recycling containers for guests to dispose of their used bottles and cans. For smaller gatherings, skip the disposables and just use your own cloth napkins, kitchen plates, and cutlery. Ask a few friends to pitch in on the clean-up and dishwashing. If you're hosting a bigger shindig, buy the party cups/plates/napkins/cutlery made from recycled or sustainable materials.

Happy green Halloween!