Wacky, Fun Ideas for a Low Waste Halloween

Halloween is a holiday built on creativity — silly costumes, spooky decorations, and festive gatherings. But behind the fun often comes a “spooky” amount of waste. Single use costumes, plastic décor, disposable party supplies, and novelty items can quickly turn a joyful celebration into a landfill bound pile. With a little intention, Halloween can stay wacky, spooky, and fun while generating far less waste. Here are practical, easy ways to celebrate a low-waste Halloween without sacrificing any of the magic.

Kids having fun with a few simple ideas to make a costume - DIY!

Costumes: Keep It Creative, Not Wasteful

One of the biggest sources of Halloween waste comes from store bought costumes. Pop up shops and big box stores sell costumes packaged in layers of plastic, often made from low quality materials that won’t last beyond one night. Instead, try thrifting your costume at local shops or Goodwill’s Halloween Headquarters. Thrift stores keep items in circulation and offer endless inspiration.

If you’re feeling crafty, DIY costumes are a fun way to tap into your imagination. Cardboard boxes become robots or race cars, old sheets transform into classic ghosts, and scrap fabric can be stitched into capes, skirts, or accessories. Even dusting off the sewing machine for a simple project can make the holiday feel more personal and meaningful.

Another great option is a community costume swap. Host one a couple weeks before Halloween so neighbors can trade costumes, accessories, and ideas. Some communities even offer costume rentals, keeping materials in use year after year.

Make-up sometimes is all that is needed.

And don’t forget the power of makeup and face paint. The internet is full of tutorials that turn simple face paint into incredible characters. Sometimes a painted face is all you need for a fun, low waste costume at school or in the office.

Decorations: Choose Natural, Skip the Duds

Halloween décor doesn’t need to be plastic heavy to be festive. Pumpkins, corn stalks, hay bales, and mums bring all the seasonal charm you need. Carving pumpkins is a beloved tradition — roast the seeds for a snack and compost the pumpkin when the holiday is over.

A few decorations, though, are best avoided:

1. Inflatables - They may be cute, but they use energy, require synthetic materials, and often end up in the landfill.

2. Painted Pumpkins - Paint, especially toxic paint, contaminates pumpkins and prevents composting.

3. Single Use Décor - Dollar store decorations rarely last. Choose durable items you can store and reuse each year.

Halloween Parties: Celebrate Without the Trash

Choose to Reuse

If you’re hosting a party, ditch disposables. Recycling Connections’ Near Zero Waste service-ware rental offers reusable plates, cups, and silverware to make sustainable hosting easy. Avoid novelty drinks served in single use plastic — test tubes, syringes, and mini cups are rarely recyclable.

If you’re attending a party, bring your own cup, plate, and silverware. Choose beverages in cans or bottles to make recycling easier for the host.

Have a Happy, Zero Waste Halloween!

With a few intentional choices, Halloween can stay spooky, silly, and sustainable. Small actions add up — and they start with you.