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8 Easy tips for for a more sustainable Halloween

2 days ago
4 min read

Halloween can create a surprising amount of waste, from single-use costumes to uneaten pumpkins and disposable decorations. The good news is that you do not need weeks of planning to make better choices.


If you are sorting costumes, sweets or pumpkins at the last minute, these simple swaps can still help you cut waste, save money and keep the celebrations fun.


Wide-angle view of carved pumpkins, autumn leaves and reusable Halloween decorations on a front doorstep
A few reusable decorations can make a doorstep feel festive without creating extra waste.

1. Use what you already have for costumes


Before buying anything new, check wardrobes, fancy dress boxes, charity shop finds and old school play outfits. A black dress, striped top, oversized coat or sheet can become a witch, pirate, ghost or spooky character with a little imagination.


For a quick sustainable Halloween costume, focus on one or two strong details:


  • Face paint instead of a plastic mask

  • A homemade hat or cape

  • Old clothes styled in a new way

  • Cardboard props from delivery boxes


If you do buy something, choose pieces that can be worn again, not a full outfit that will only last one night.


2. Swap costumes with friends or neighbours


A costume swap is one of the easiest last-minute wins. Children often outgrow outfits long before they wear them out, and adults may have fancy dress items sitting unused.


Send a quick message to friends, neighbours or a school group and ask what people have spare. Even swapping accessories helps. A hat, cloak, wig or pair of wings can change a whole outfit without buying new.


3. Decorate with natural materials


Plastic cobwebs, glittery decorations and cheap props are hard to recycle and often end up in the bin. Instead, use things that can be composted or packed away.


Good last-minute decoration ideas include:


  • Pumpkins and squash

  • Autumn leaves

  • Twigs and branches

  • Paper bats or ghosts

  • Glass jars with LED tealights

  • Old fabric for table covers or spooky drapes


Avoid releasing balloons or lanterns outdoors, as they can harm wildlife and leave litter behind.


Close-up of paper bats, glass jars with LED tealights and autumn leaves arranged on a wooden table
Simple homemade decorations can be reused, recycled or composted after the celebrations.

4. Eat your pumpkin, do not just carve it


Pumpkins are food, but many are carved and thrown away. If you have not bought one yet, choose a pumpkin or squash that is good for eating as well as decorating.


When carving, scoop out the flesh and seeds before putting the pumpkin outside. Keep them chilled and use them soon.


Try these easy ideas:


  • Roast the seeds with oil, salt and spices

  • Make pumpkin soup with onion, stock and herbs

  • Add roasted pumpkin to pasta, risotto or curry

  • Bake pumpkin into muffins, cake or loaf

  • Mash it with potatoes or root veg


If the carved pumpkin has been outdoors for a few days, especially if wildlife has nibbled it or it has started to soften, do not eat it. Pop it in your food waste bin or compost at home.


5. Choose sweets with less packaging


Individually wrapped sweets are the easiest option for trick-or-treating, but you can still reduce waste by making careful choices.


Look for larger sharing bags rather than lots of small multipacks, and choose packaging that your local council accepts for recycling where possible. Foil-wrapped chocolates may be recyclable if the foil is clean and scrunched into a ball, but rules vary.


If you are hosting at home, bowls of homemade biscuits, popcorn or fruit can work well for guests you know. For trick-or-treaters, stick to sealed items for safety and hygiene.


6. Reuse bags and buckets for trick-or-treating


There is no need to buy a new plastic pumpkin bucket. A fabric tote bag, pillowcase, small basket or old gift bag will do the job.


Children can decorate a plain bag with paper cut-outs, fabric scraps or washable pens. After Halloween, fold it away for next year or put it back into normal use.


Eye-level view of a child holding a reusable canvas trick-or-treat bag beside pumpkins and fallen leaves
A reusable bag works just as well as a plastic bucket and can be used again next year.

7. Go to a community bonfire or fireworks display


For Bonfire Night, a public display is a better choice than lots of small private fireworks in gardens. It means fewer individual bonfires, less packaging waste and fewer fireworks being set off across several nights.


Community events are also usually planned with safety, crowd control and timing in mind. Check local listings and walk, cycle, use public transport or share lifts if you can.


8. Plan your clean-up before the party starts


The easiest waste to avoid is the waste you plan for. Put out clearly labelled bags or boxes for recycling, compost and general rubbish before guests arrive.


Use normal plates, cups and cutlery if you can. If you need disposables, choose recyclable or compostable options only if you know they can actually go in the right bin afterwards. Compostable items often need specific conditions and may not break down in a home compost heap.


For leftover food, send guests home with portions, freeze what you can, and use pumpkin, bread, cheese and cooked veg in soups, toasties or stews the next day.


Overhead view of pumpkin soup, roasted pumpkin seeds and sliced bread on a kitchen table
Using pumpkin flesh and seeds turns decorations into a warming meal.

A greener celebration does not need to be perfect


You do not have to change everything this year. Pick the swaps that fit the time, budget and plans you already have.


Use up your pumpkin. Borrow a costume. Choose decorations you can reuse. Share a fireworks display instead of buying your own. Small choices made by lots of households can turn Halloween and Bonfire Night into celebrations with less waste and just as much atmosphere.


 
 
 

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