Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Why your party waste won’t just disappear
WHILE the Halloween ghosts will soon vanish, the same can’t be said for our props and plastic.
So what will you do with your unwanted items once the ghouls have all been spirited away?
Here are a few tips from Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful:
Chilling costumes – An estimated 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste was created in the UK last year from throwaway Halloween clothing, much of which was polyester. Take action by reusing and reinventing previous years’ costumes, buying from charity shops or by making your own ghastly garb from non-plastic materials.
Monstrous multipacks – Individual plastic wrapped sweets or treat bags are wickedly wasteful. Ditch multipacks for sweets with cardboard tubes/ packaging or opt for nature’s candy – fruit. Non-food treats such as small crayon packs or paper bookmarks are also a simple switch.
Diabolical decorations – It might be tempting to stock up on all things glittery and ghostly but consider dumping the disposable decor. Go one better and involve your family in homemade creepy Halloween crafts. Stick to durable options and pack away with care. Then your devilish decorations can be used year after year.
Patience of a saint – Don’t expect to slash your plastic waste for good after one holiday. You may be feeling the fiery glow of a successful waste-free Halloween. Build on that feeling and continue to reduce your pointless plastic use throughout the rest of the year. It’s nothing to be afraid of.