13 Tips for an Eco-Friendly Halloween

Unlucky number 13 can be your lucky number and save you some green when you use my top 13 eco-friendly tips for going green this Halloween. Being "green" doesn't have to limit your holiday fun and you'll feel so much better that you are helping to keep our Earth clean.

1. Reusable Bag - Invest in a reusable Trick or Treat bag that can be reused year after year or re purposed after Halloween is over instead of the traditional molded plastic bucket, paper or plastic bag. Canvas and Cloth bags make a great alternative. Chico bags has a great trick or treat tote designed by kids with a percent of the purchase price going towards Treeswing an organization that promotes Green Halloween. The bags are available on their website for $6.00 http://www.chicobag.com/

2.Make Your Own Costumes - Every year millions of dollars are spent on Halloween costumes that will only be used once and discarded. This year why not make your own costume out of items you find around the house or can purchase at a local thrift store. You can find lots of great homemade costume ideas and directions for making them on the Internet. One of my favorites is Coolest Homemade Costumes www.coolest-homemade-costumes.com.

3. Use Soy Candles - Candles add a flickering spookiness to your Halloween decor however the paraffin and petroleum used in a traditional wax candle releases toxic chemicals like toluene and benzene through smoke and soot. Keep your home and lungs healthy with organic soy candles, which last longer and come from renewable soy bean crops.

4. Kid Powered Flashlights - Instead of handing out the battery powered flashlight to your kids this year, opt for a cleaner more Eco- friendly flashlight and choose one thats kid powered. Ultra Tech products carries a shakeable flashlight for a little under $8.00 on their website www.ultratechproducts.com Just a couple of minutes of shaking will produce 30 minutes of continuous bright light.

5. Solar Powered Decorations - These energy saving decorations charge up all day then light up at night saving electricity in the process. There are some great solar powered Halloween decorations reviewed on Inventorspot http://inventorspot.com/articles/years_solar_powered_halloween_li_7525

6. Walk Instead Of Drive - Instead of driving your kids from neighborhood to neighborhood this Halloween consider walking your route. This will help keep the environment clean, save you money on gas and give you and your children a little exercise in the process. If you must drive then get together with a group of friends and set up a Carpool to take your children trick or treating.

7. Use Recycled Materials To Make Homemade Halloween Decor - Instead of buying commercially made Halloween Decorations make your own. Grab some old clothes or costumes, stuff them and display around your yard as Scarecrows or scary Halloween figures. Cardboard boxes can be cut into tombstone shapes and used to make a spooky graveyard scene. A white sheet can be used for eerie ghosts and old newspaper can be turned into paper mache pumpkins. The materials like your imagination are limitless.

8. Reuse Halloween Decorations - If you do use commercially made Halloween decorations look for products that will withstand the elements and can be used year after year instead of disposed of after the holiday is over. Labeled tote bins or cardboard boxes can help keep everything stored and organized until next Halloween

9. Don't Litter - Talk to your kids about litter and make sure that any candy papers get thrown in the trash instead of on the ground. After Halloween take a neighborhood walk and pick up litter that the not so Eco minded may have discarded.

10. Pick Your Own Pumpkin - Support local farmers and purchase your pumpkin from a local grower rather than a large supermarket. A trip to the local pumpkin patch is a wonderful family event and is much more fun than getting one at the store. You can find a list of places where you can pick your own pumpkin at www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org

11. Buy Organic - There are a lot of companies who make great tasting organic candy that is better for you and better for the environment. Consider purchasing some to hand out to trick or treaters this year. The Natural Candy Store www.naturalcandystore.com has several different types of organic candy you can choose from.

12. Compost - After Halloween is over add your jack-o-lanterns, fallen leaves, straw used for decoration, food scraps, and other organic, biodegradable yard and household waste to your compost bin. Compost is good for the environment and creates excellent soil for your garden. If you don't have a Compost bin consider starting one. There are many websites that give you information on how to get started.

13. Have A Green Halloween Party - If you plan on hosting a Halloween Party this year consider making it a Green Party. Send out email invites instead of paper ones, use reusable plates, cups, flatware and cloth napkins. You can also serve organic foods and use fruits and vegetables that are in season to prepare your dishes.

When making your Halloween plans keep these words in mind Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, and by making a few simple changes to your holiday traditions you can save money on everything from costumes to yard decorations and help save the Earth in the process.