With Halloween right around the corner, you may be feeling quite excited about the upcoming parties, costumes and treats. While Halloween is certainly a very fun time of the year, it also has the potential for creating a whole lot of unnecessary waste that can be easily avoided with a little forethought and planning. Here are some ways to get into the Halloween spirit while still doing your part to keep the planet clean.

Tip #1: Use Eco-Friendly Candy Collectors

Rather than purchase a plastic candy container that will likely be thrown away after the holiday is over, consider using a pillowcase instead. A pillowcase can be easily washed and put back to its original use after the trick-or-treating is over. It is also capable of holding plenty of candy and is not likely to break or form a hole while walking from house to house.

If you don’t want to risk ruining a pillowcase or if a pillowcase seems to cumbersome for your child, you can make your own candy container by cutting the top off of a milk jug and decorating it before heading out for trick-or-treating. With the help of a permanent marker and a little creativity, you can transform your milk jug into a jack-o-lantern or a friendly ghost. After trick-or-treating is over, you can put your milk jug in your recycling container along with all of your other recyclables.

Tip #2: Make Your Own Costume

Halloween costumes are often made of cheap material and are worn only once. Rather than spend the money on something that you will just throw away at the end of the day, consider creating your own costume from items that you already have at home. This is also a great way to create a unique costume that others are not likely to have. For example, you can transform yourself into a jellyfish by attaching strips of bubble wrap to the outside of an umbrella and carrying it over your head. Or, use cardboard boxes to transform yourself into a robot or even a sand castle.

Tip #3: Create Decorations from Trash

You might be surprised by the great decorations that you can create from items that you would otherwise throw away. Jars from spaghetti sauce, pickles and other food items can be cleaned out and painted with Halloween décor. Add a candle inside to create a spooky glow. Creating your decorations beforehand can be a fun family activity that adds a personal touch to your holiday.

Tip #4: Recycle Candy Wrappers

Rather than throw away all of the candy wrappers from Halloween, challenge the family to save them. Once all of the candy is consumed, look into programs such as Terracycle to recycle your wrappers rather than send them to the landfill. Or, if you are feeling extra creative, look for ways to use your wrappers to create something new.

At Securr, we offer a number of different receptacles that are meant for recycling. Whether you need smaller receptacles or large multistream recycle bins, we are sure to have an option for you.