INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — This season, Waste Management reminds its customers to save money and Think Green by avoiding traditional Halloween routines that usually result in waste in favor of recyclable, eco-friendly habits.
Use the whole pumpkin: It’s easy to bake the seeds with a little bit of salt for a tasty and healthy snack; or, puree the freshly cutout pieces for recipes that call for fresh pumpkin avoiding canned pumpkin.
Skip the expensive plastic costumes: Put less stress on your wallet by opting for costumes made of reusable or recycled materials. Incite your family’s creativity by constructing a unique, exciting costume from scratch.
Use recyclable bags for your Trick-or-Treaters: A fun family activity is to create a unique Trick-or-Treat basket, or simply put a reusable bag to good use.
DIY Decorations: Making your own decorations provides yet another money-saving, green-going opportunity. Must-haves like plastic spiders, witches and ghosts can be a one-time purchase saved for use, year after year. When possible, look for reclaimed material; when buying things that can’t be kept—like streamers or paper plates—be sure to look for brands that are both recycled and recyclable.
“Some of the best ‘green’ tips we can offer our customers are those designed for living an eco-friendly lifestyle throughout the year,” said Teresa Chandler, Public Affairs Manager for Waste Management.
The following are additional tips to help reduce, reuse and recycle this Halloween.
Walk instead of drive. Rather than drive to other neighborhoods, stay close to home and trick-or-treat in your neighborhood.
Throw a green Halloween party. Purchase organic pumpkins for carving and apples for bobbing from local organic farms. Once the jack-o-lanterns are carved and the bobbing is complete, use the apples and pumpkins for pies, soups and other tasty dishes.
Help keep neighborhoods clean while trick-or-treating. Carry an extra bag and pick up litter along the way.
