Monsters, skeletons and goblins may be lurking around every corner right now, but that does not have to result in ghoulish waste. A few simple tricks can lead to treats for you and the planet.
Think outside the heavily packaged treat bags for Halloween party snacks this year. Veggie trays can feature pumpkins made of carrots and olives, shortbread finger cookies with almond slice nails and stuffed peppers with jack-o’-lantern faces oozing melting cheese.
More macabre partygoers may enjoy a locally butchered meat tray fashioned into intestines or decomposing mummies, which can be seriously gross when ketchup from this year’s tomato harvest comes into play. And unless you want your grandmother to roll over in her grave, avoid disposable plates and cutlery at any of your freaky festivities.
Gourds of all shapes and sizes are a timely addition to fall-inspired home décor. Lasting longer than leaves and flowers and more eco than their hauntingly wasteful plastic equivalents, you can pick up locally grown gourds from 10 am-12 pm on Saturdays at the Winter Farmers’ Market at Community Resource Centre, 4752 Joyce Avenue, and from generous neighbours. A cornucopia of ideas on zero-waste decorations are also available online.
Once your spooky, art-carved pumpkin has cast its last shadow, feed it to the pigs courtesy of a free pumpkin collection for a local farmer from 9 am-4:30 pm at the Town Centre Recycling Depot.
Composting is the next best option, as it is food for the soil. Please avoid any skewers or non-organic additions to your jack-o’-lantern, such as paint or glitter, no matter how tempting these ideas appear on Pinterest.
Those without a backyard composter can make use of Town Centre Recycling Depot’s free compost drop-off six days a week. Remove any residual wax stuck to the bottom as it is more than likely petroleum-based paraffin, a no-no for composting.
Remember to save your seeds for roasting or for next year’s garden patch.
May you and yours eat, drink and be scary this Halloween.
Let’s Talk Trash is Powell River Regional District’s waste-management education program.
