Halloween, one of the most popular holidays and trick-or-treating, is in just a few days. However, have you ever been curious about where candy wrappers and decorations will go? Wherever they settle in—whether it be water sources or places in the forest—what kind of impact does Halloween waste have on the ecosystem? Spookily enough, researchers found that Halloween actually negatively impacts the environment.
Every year, the number of people participating in Halloween increases, which also means that the number of costumes, candies, and decorations will also increase. “The scariest thing about Halloween now is plastic,” said Chris Rose, a member of a charity called Fairyland Trust. According to the New York Times, more than 60% of fabric fibers are now synthetics, derived from fossil fuels. So, these fabric fibers will not decay if they end up in landfills, which is where about 85% of textile waste in the U.S. goes. And even if they settle in water sources or somewhere else, the same situation will inevitably arise.
An investigation in 2016 by The Hubbub Foundation, a charity campaigning for the environment, discovered that polluting oil-based plastic accounts for 83% of the material used from 19 supermarkets and retailers—Aldi, Argos, Asos, Amazon, Boden, John Lewis, M&S, Next, and Tesco—and they are likely to end up in landfills. They also found that approximately 7 million costumes were thrown away, which is the equivalent of 83 million bottles. Going homemade for your costume might be a better option, but if you plan to buy a costume, be sure to look for “PVC-free” or “phthalate-free” materials as these chemicals are toxic and can be hidden in the costumes.
There’s also the issue of makeup consumption that skyrockets during Halloween. Cosmetics can include harmful ingredients; a 2009 report from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found that face paints for children contain a small amount of lead, ranging from 0.05 to 0.65 parts per million. Some paints might also include arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel, or mercury, which can cause skin issues such as sensitization and contact dermatitis. Sierra Club, an environmental organization, created a list of eco-friendly cosmetics and fake skin and face paint recipes made with natural food coloring and fruit or vegetable-based dyes. Furthermore, consulting apps like Think Dirty, Healthy Living, and the Good Guide—or skipping the makeup process—can help one avoid these risks.
Besides the non-recyclable costumes and toxic make-up, decorations also have a part in these negative effects. Scary, right? Similar to costumes, decorations that are bought from stores are usually made from cheap and non-recyclable materials, i.e. plastics. Plastic plates, utensils, and cups are popular for Halloween parties, but they won’t decay after disposal, and thus, result in environmental pollution. Moreover, decorative candles and tea lights can contain petroleum-based paraffin that release harmful chemicals when lit.
Millions of pounds of pumpkins are also going to be dumped after a single night of fun. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. yields about 1.4 billion pounds of pumpkins every year, and as we know, they will eventually end up in trash bins after Halloween. Before a pumpkin is put onto a porch, it also takes a lot of resources and fertilizer to grow it. Additionally, pumpkins are a type of food, so disposing of them after Halloween contributes to food waste. In order to avoid wasting pumpkins, compost them, slice up the flesh for soup or muffins, bake the seeds, or blend them into a facial exfoliant instead of throwing it away. The pumpkins on your porch are edible, so get creative with how you can use them after Halloween.
Receiving free candy also seems tasty and harmless, right? Think again! Many Halloween treats, as well as other foods and products, are made with unsustainable palm oil. According to NationSwell, a company dedicated to helping the world’s most urgent challenges, palm oil is “cheap to ship and produce,” but emits greenhouse gases which can cause deforestation by the act of burning forests for palm oil plantations. And all those individually wrapped pieces of candy can end up in water sources, adding up to a lot of pollution and contributing to the millions of tons of debris floating around in oceans. To avoid this, consider purchasing treats in bulk rather than in the “fun-size” category. Buying in bulk requires less packaging, and because of the large size, you will be spending less time and money trying to buy more candy if it runs out on Halloween night.
Halloween is a fun and enjoyable day, but just because it is a single day does not mean that we should care less about the environment. Have a safe and spooky Halloween!
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