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Tricks and Treats for a Green Halloween
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| Sure, witches, ghosts, and ghouls are scary, but so is the amount of pollution and waste created during popular holidays like Halloween. Here are a few tips for making your Halloween a green one that can help save you money and help save mother nature, too. |
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Carry reusable candy bags such as pillow cases or canvas bags that you and your kids can decorate and use again next year. They are more sturdy than plastic bags too. |
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Be creative and make your costumes rather than buying them from a store. These prepackaged purchases are usually loaded with plastic, from the cloth to the many accessories. Or head to your local thrift store for some bargains, and donate your costume back when you're done or pass it on to other friends and family members. |
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Use rechargeable batteries in your flashlight as you trek along your trick or treating path. There are also flashlights that you can just shake and charge, requiring no batteries at all. |
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Plan a green Halloween party by including reusable items like utensils, plates, tablecloths. When filling the goodie bowl, try purchasing candy with less wrapping. Better yet, make some homemade treats like cookies, candied apples or caramel popcorn for your guests—these require no plastic but create just as many grins...and cavities. |
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Make your own decorations or recycle last year's. If you're feeling ambitious, make your own, such as shrunken apple heads, out of materials you have around the house. Simply peel, carve, and soak apples in 1 cup of lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of salt and let them sit and shrivel. When the party's over, just toss them into the compost.
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Be a pumpkin eater and make use of those jack-o-lantern leftovers, which are also chockful of vitamins. The seeds also make excellent eating for birds and humans alike-- just dry them in the oven for a toasty treat. When buying your pumpkin, head to your local farmer's market or pick your own at an actual farm where you'll be supporting local growers and having a lot of fun.
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