Trash Free Halloween: Protect An Ocean Near You. If You're Landlocked, Do Your Part Anyway.
The Ocean Conservancy and it members and volunteers endeavor to preserve our oceans whenever possible. Now that the first Nor'easter has blasted into NY, NJ, Mass. and Conn, setting historic records and pulling the plug on Con Ed, PS&G and other utility customers with a pre-winter, pre-Halloween goblin-like ferocity, the conservancy has some tips for Halloween and its after-effects that also will come in handy year-round.
Of course, the problem is trash and litter that can wash into storm drains and travel all the way to the ocean. And Halloween is a real trash burner from candy wrappers to decorations and costumes, except you can't burn paper trash any more, right? So the conservancy has listed some easy ways for everyone in the family to reduce their trash output during this scary time. That way, you and your kids feel good, and so do the ocean's creatures.
Going trick or treating with the kids?
Why not reuse a pillowcase (have the kids decorate it...if it's an old one) instead of buying a plastic candy container. Or, if you really want to be innovative and artistic, use any larger container from a used-up food item, i.e. plastic milk container. Then get out the permanent markers, paste and colored paper and start your kids and their friends to decorating. When they're done, hold a contest for the best decorated container in the family or amongst friends. Of course, don't forget to recycle it after they've devoured the candy.
An additional way to make them feel good about helping the planet with their endeavors and forestalling any "smart mouth" who might try to "put them down" for their efforts. To any kid who makes negative comments about their container, they can say something like, "I'm conserving the oceans. What are you doing for marine habitats?"
Want to save some money?
I know, I know. merchandizers prey upon your kids, forcing them to coerce you into buying the "coolest costume on the block." Again, turn these behaviors around to benefit a good cause. Using stuff in the house, have them create their own ocean-themed costume: i.e. sea creatures, sea monsters. For example you can make a jellyfish by attaching strips of bubble wrap around the outside of an umbrella. For a sea urchin, dress in black and tape cardboard triangles to a bandana. You can always go as an ecosystem and tell people that unfortunately, the trash in your costume is part of that ecosystem.
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