Creativity was the name of the game this All Hallow’s Eve. Households delivered treats down chutes, neighbours dropped off gifts to each other and friends exchanged costumes.
Overall, trash cans may just have gone on a diet this time around as celebrations were more tame and less ghoulishly wasteful. Still, you may have some questions haunting you while staring into the remains of your full moon night of fun.
The crinkle of candy wrappers will be heard for a few weeks to come, months for the ultra disciplined. Plastic treat packaging is most likely made from the types of laminate plastic accepted at recycling depots in the stream known as “Other Flexible Packaging.”
In the past, these went straight to the grave of a landfill, but currently Recycle BC is playing mad scientist with these tough to recycle resins. What cannot be recycled is becoming engineered fuel and used to replace coal-based fuel.
Carved pumpkins that have been colouring front steps for a week or so are destined for the grave soon. If you’re in farm country, remove wax, toothpicks and anything that would turn a pig’s nose, and donate your spent gourd for animal feed. The annual pumpkin animal feed event at the Town Centre Recycling Depot is already over, but the compost bin will receive your contributions, no matter how garish.
If you’re keen to use your backyard compost, remember to add some of the plentiful supply of fall leaves to balance out your pile. Pumpkins are nitrogen rich and dry leaves (newspaper, sawdust, wood shavings) are carbon rich; these two combine to make a dynamic duo, breaking materials down more quickly.
Amid these uncertain times, keeping spirits up and creativity engaged is more important than ever. Costumes can be exchanged with family and friends so youngsters can play with new identities throughout the darker months.
Adult onesies are a thing, too, so don’t put it past people in your cohort to host a dress-up party for all ages. Keep dress-up gear you’re tired of in circulation by donating to thrift stores that are accepting items. All stores are currently open, giving us all a reason to step out and score some cozy fall deals.
Fireworks may have been the bane of every pet owner and parent with young children the past few nights, and the irritation can continue if debris litters their neighbourhood. Let’s all do each other the favour of picking up any shrapnel, particularly plastic bits that are “decorating” drains and lawns around our favourite haunts.
Assessing Halloween’s garbage hangover can be a little scary, but may also inspire better choices moving forward.
Let’s Talk Trash is qathet Regional District’s waste-reduction education program. For more information, email [email protected] or go to LetsTalkTrash.ca.
