With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s tempting to hit the stores or shop online for items that are destined to find eternal life in the landfill the day after the holiday passes. Start the holiday season off right by adopting a sustainable mindset for Halloween.
Waste Not, Wicked Wench
For costume ideas, look through the clothes and accessories you already have. With just a few minor modifications or additions, there are many creative ways to bring new life to items long buried in the closet, garage, or attic.
Some characters that can be summoned from your own closet are a witch, the classic bedsheet ghost, pirate, Rosie the Riveter, Wednesday Addams, and most pop stars and celebrities. Get creative, zero waste zombies!
Second (Severed) Hand
If you don’t have an item on hand that you need for a costume, sourcing it from a thrift store is your best option. Sometimes buying a piece cannot be avoided, so giving life to something that was previously owned is always better than buying new.
Trick-Or-Trade
Another option is to trade costumes. If a friend or family member had a costume that you liked, ask to borrow it. This works really well for children who have outgrown their costumes. Consider proactively lending or trading costumes with another family.
The more people involved in sustainable sourcing, the better the chance of achieving zero waste in your community. Taking COVID into consideration, these tips will help you save money in case we don’t have a Halloween. Remember to wash everything before wearing it.
Lavish Lair with Low-Budget Flair
Cheap decorations are a tempting evil. It may be hard to resist the spell that a 99-cent bag of spider webs casts until you remember that the plastic mesh on the web around your office desk will remain immortal in the landfill.
To resist the temptation, source materials from your own home. Repurpose black and orange items or generally spooky things you already have and display them in front of the house. Items may include orange plants or flowers, dead bouquets, old ornate objects, decorative metal pieces, acorns, and empty bottles with candles in them.
If you have children at home, have them help come up with some creative ideas, and make some decorations from materials around the house. They may need help with costumes, but paper bags, construction paper, old clothes that no longer fit, even leaves can be used in creative ways to decorate the house and the yard.
Spread the Goodwill
After Halloween, don’t bury your decorations and costumes in the cold, hard landfill. Donate them to thrift stores or pack them away for next year. If we all get in the spirit, Halloween can be a treat for the family and the neighborhood.
We would love to see what you conjure up with repurposed costumes or decorations. Send us your photos to communications@athensservices.com for a chance to be featured on social media. For more information and tips, follow Athens Services on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
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