Happy Hallo-green: Sustainable tips and tricks for Halloween
From: Division of Facilities
The Office of Sustainability would like to encourage the campus community to take small actions that will make this Halloween season more sustainable.
Students, faculty, and staff can participate by shopping local, getting creative, and being aware of their choices throughout the month of October.
Simple tips and tricks to have a sustainable Halloween:
Buy or pick pumpkins locally.
Carve pumpkins instead of painting them. Painted pumpkins cannot be composted.
Instead of throwing away pumpkin seeds, try out new recipes. Some ideas include roasted pumpkin seeds, or crunchy granola.
Light jack-o-lanterns with a zero waste candle, such as a 100 percent beeswax “no cup” tealight with a cotton wick.
Avoid buying new decorations. Instead, make decorations from household and recyclable materials. This could be a fun project to do with friends or family.
Create a costume from thrifted items or from items already owned and tag the @VTSustainable Instagram account withsustainable costumes. Also, try to pick pieces of clothing that can be worn beyond Halloween rather than purchasing them for a one-time use.
Swap costumes or borrow clothing from a friend if going out multiple nights of the week.
Shop for organic and Fair Trade certified options of candy and chocolate and consider buying in bulk to avoid unnecessary wrappers and waste.
Participate in safe, local Halloween activities in your town. If the event is close enough, leave the car in favor of walking or biking. Also, don’t forget local transit like buses.
Make parties low waste or zero waste by using washable plates, cups, and utensils. Offer recycling for beverage cans and compost any leftover food scraps.
If purchasing lights for a haunted house, look for LEDs, which help save energy compared to traditional bulbs. Go the extra mile by placing them on a timer to further dial in those energy savings.
Watch out for vampire energy! Unplug lights and appliances when they are not in use to avoid additional energy consumption
Additional questions on how to be sustainable this Halloween may be directed to sustainability@vt.edu.