Each year, the National Retail Federation conducts a consumer survey to estimate how much consumers will spend on Halloween. Everything from candy and decorations to costumes and pumpkins is included in the final tally. With newly collected data, the organization projects that in 2024, consumers will spend an average of around $104 per person, with total spending anticipated to reach $11.6 billion.

With an increase in Halloween spending may come an increase in Halloween-related waste, as candy wrappers costumes and plastic decorations begin to pile up post-holiday. However, there are several ways to celebrate the spooky season while still staying sustainable at heart. Let’s look at a few ways to reduce Halloween-related waste in a more sustainable way.

Costumes

When on the hunt for a standout Halloween costume, consider making your own with a DIY approach instead of buying brand new. New costumes often come packaged in plastic that can’t be recycled. Consider thrifting for the perfect DIY look or use household items you already have on hand for ideas and inspiration. Once you’ve spent all that time curating your ideal Halloween costume, don’t let those efforts go to waste—literally. If you don’t think you’ll reuse or pass down your costume to a family member or friend year after year, don’t throw it away, where it can end up in a landfill. Consider donating your costume to a thrift store or clothing donation center where it can find a second life.

Candy

Are candy wrappers recyclable? The short answer is no. Although Hershey’s Kisses are wrapped in recyclable aluminum and can be recycled, it’s a common misconception that most other candy wrappers can be recycled, too. If you want to be super sustainable on Halloween, consider swapping individually wrapped candies with festive alternatives like Halloween-themed pencils, crayons or chalk instead of handing out candy-filled goodie bags.

If you’re the one trick-or-treating instead of handing out candy, look for reusable and recyclable bags to collect your Halloween goodies haul. Tote bags, drawstring bags and other alternatives that can be used year after year are great eco-friendly options versus plastic bags that wreak ghoulish havoc when they end up in the waste stream.

Jack-o-Lanterns

Pumpkins are compostable and shouldn’t be tossed in the recycling bin when the holiday is over. Dispose of your pumpkins in a compost or organic waste retainer. As an added bonus, while you carve your pumpkin, set aside the seeds for a nutritious and healthy snack to enjoy later.

Decorations

Consider hanging onto any festive fall or Halloween décor that’s still in decent shape at the end of the season and pack it away to store for next year. If your decorations look frightening and have seen a better day, confirm what material they’re made of and check local recycling guidelines before tossing them in the recycling bin or the trash.

Lastly, if you clear a path through your yard to make way for trick or treaters and guests this Halloween, keep a few environmentally friendly yard waste removal pointers in mind, as well. As you collect brush, branches, leaves and wood scraps, you can set those materials aside to shred and create your own mulch. You can also allow leaves, grass clipping and hedge trimmings to slowly decompose over time, which will generate rich, nutrient-dense soil for your garden. If composting yard waste isn’t for you, find out whether your community offers yard waste dropoff programs or yard waste collection. Just remember that when setting your yard waste aside, be sure to ditch the plastic bags and keep yard waste separate from trash, since organic materials do not properly decompose in landfills.

Here’s to doing our part to have a spooky yet sustainable fall and Halloween!