Sustainability Tip of the Week
A Simple Wish for a Better Tomorrow
Here are some quick tips on how to make your Halloween festivities sustainably spooky!
After Christmas, Halloween is the second most commercially successful holiday world-wide. So with Halloween just around the corner and while you’re thinking of all things themed orange and black, how about thinking green at the same time?
Tip 1: Pumpkin Time – Buy local! Local farms are sure to have many options available, try different shapes and sizes for a Jack or Jill-o-lantern with character. Many people will roast the pumpkin seeds for a tasty snack. (Pumpkin seeds are full of fiber, nutrients and anti-oxidants!) Don’t forget to compost your pumpkin after Halloween as well! (Did know the first Jack-O-Lanterns were actually made from turnips?)
Tip 2: Trick-Or-Treat – Lots of great green ideas here for kids and the first is to make sure they use their own steam to walk or bike to trick-or-treat neighborhoods. If snacking along the way, be sure they keep the candy wrappers to recycle when they get home and try a re-useable trick-or-treat bag which can be used year after year.
Tip 3: Party Central – Costume parties are popular this time of year so if you’re thinking of hosting a ghoulish gala, be sure to think sustainably. First up, ditch the Styrofoam plates and instead use compostable items or if possible, use washable plates and utensils along with cloth napkins if you can. Encourage guests to bring locally sourced food items for your potluck and be sure to have your recycling and compost bins handy to maximize your Halloween diversion rates. Second-hand stores can be a gold mine when it comes to gathering decorations, use your imagination to create the perfect Halloween scene! Check out the link below for more ideas:
https://www.treehugger.com/green-home/12-diy-halloween-decorations-dont-pack-landfill-punch.html
Tip 4: Costume Time – Speaking of second-hand stores, you can score a ton of great deals (and some originality points) by shopping vintage and ‘gently used.’ Who wants a mass-produced plastic mask and polyester tie-up costume over a truly original combination you’ve come up with? Save the earth and some cash this Halloween by sourcing your costume at some great secondhand stores. About 15% of us will dress our pets up as well. So if Fido’s on your list for Halloween, think about how your four-legged friend can be eco-friendly too!
Source: https://www.buschsystems.com/resource-center/page/tips-on-how-to-have-a-sustainable-halloween
Faculty, staff and students please share your sustainable ideas for our weekly tip to j.coons@hvcc.edu.
Published: Mon, 28 Oct 2019 12:27:52 +0000 by j.coons