Keep It Green This Halloween

Make The Most Of Your Pumpkin

The humble pumpkin – a Halloween classic! While it’s best known as the quintessential spooky decoration, it’s also a very versatile and sustainable ingredient. This Halloween, why not challenge yourself to cook with your pumpkin! The flesh makes delicious soups, curries and sweet treats, and the seeds, once dried and roasted, are an excellent high-protein snack!

Need inspiration? Try these Top 20 pumpkin recipes | Good Food

And when you’re finished, don’t throw it in the general waste! If you don’t have a compost heap, pop your pumpkin in your food waste bin. If it’s too big to fit, simply place it on top of or next to your caddy and our recycling team will collect it on your usual collection day!

Watch this video for more information.

Say Boo To Rubbish

Each Halloween, the UK throws away the equivalent of 520 elephants worth of waste, from sweet wrappers to decorations and costumes that only last one night.

This year, let’s try to avoid this by using what you already have before buying new, and boxing up your decorations once the festivities are over so they can be reused next year. It’s good for the planet, and your wallet!

No Costume Should Haunt The Planet

Want to know something truly frightening? Roughly 7 million costumes are thrown out each year in the UK, and 83% are made from non-recyclable plastic. So let’s make this Halloween spooky and sustainable by keeping outfits out of the general waste- here’s how you can help:

Re-wear your costume from previous years.
Swap or lend outfits with friends and family.
Shop second-hand on sites like Vinted, Depop, eBay, or in charity shops
Get creative and make your own using clothes and materials you already have
Donate your old outfits

Beware Of Dead Batteries

Don’t let your used batteries haunt the environment! If your Halloween lights or decorations are battery-powered, switch to rechargeable batteries where you can to save money and waste.

When batteries do reach the end of their life, never throw them in the general waste. Instead, drop them off at your local recycling point or supermarket to ensure they’re safely recycled.

Watch this video for more information on where to recycle your batteries.

Shop Local

Wherever you can, try to shop locally instead of ordering online. Buying from nearby shops and markets supports our community and helps cut down on packaging and emissions.

And when it comes to pumpkins, why not make a day of it and pick your own at a local pumpkin patch? You’ll get a fresher pumpkin and enjoy a fun, sustainable, seasonal activity!

Recycle What You Can

When stocking up on treats, look for sweets with recyclable wrappers instead of plastic-lined ones. And once the fun’s over, make sure to sort and recycle what you can to give a new life to your items. Remember- your damaged Halloween lights can be recycled in your green box, as well as the aluminium foil wrappers from your treats!

Click here for more information on What goes in each bin

‘Watt’ A Spooky Saving!

Keep the fun alive while cutting your energy use! Opt for LEDs or solar -powered lights and decorations instead of traditional bulbs- they’re brighter, safer and use up to 80% less energy. Make sure to turn them off overnight to save even more.

Small switches like this help cut carbon emissions and keep your celebrations planet-friendly.

Having fun this Halloween doesn’t have to come at the expense of the planet. Small changes make a big difference, so let’s make this year’s celebrations a little more spooky and a little less wasteful!

Stories & Advice

Keep It Green This Halloween

Make The Most Of Your Pumpkin

Say Boo To Rubbish

No Costume Should Haunt The Planet

Beware Of Dead Batteries

Shop Local

Recycle What You Can

‘Watt’ A Spooky Saving!

Having fun this Halloween doesn’t have to come at the expense of the planet. Small changes make a big difference, so let’s make this year’s celebrations a little more spooky and a little less wasteful!

Making a Difference Together

Don’t Bin Your Pumpkin!

Recycle Week 2025 – Don’t Bin Us, Recycle Us

Grab a discounted compost bin!