Dear Eartha, Halloween is my favorite holiday, but I can’t help wondering how all those costumes, decorations, and (let’s be honest) mushy pumpkins add up in the waste department. What’s the best way to celebrate spooky season without scaring the planet? 

I’m right there with you — nothing says October like crisp air, haunted houses, and glowing jack-o’-lanterns. But between single-use costumes, plastic decor, and pumpkins that quickly turn to goo, Halloween can generate some serious waste. The good news? With a few easy swaps (and a great composting opportunity), you can keep the fun and lose the footprint. 

Give Your Pumpkin a Second Life

Let’s start with the star of the season: pumpkins. If your pumpkin is looking more frightful than festive, don’t toss it in the trash! Summit County residents can drop off pumpkins for free composting from Saturday, October 25 through Sunday, November 16 at the Frisco, Silverthorne, and Breckenridge Recycling Centers. Look for clearly marked pumpkin composting bins — no appointment or fee required. Before you drop it off, make sure your pumpkin is ready for composting by removing candles, wax, paint, glitter, or other decorations. 

Once collected, pumpkins are composted right here in Summit County and turned into rich soil used for landscaping and local gardens. It’s a full-circle Halloween miracle — from porch décor to planet helper.  

Why Composting Matters 

More than 158 million Americans are projected to carve pumpkins this Halloween, and that’s a lot of potential food waste. What’s the big deal? Well, food and other organic material – including pumpkins – left to rot in landfills release harmful greenhouse gas pollution. If all those 158 million pumpkins were tossed in landfills, the resulting greenhouse gas emissions would be astronomical. Now that’s scary!   

I wouldn’t ask you to give up your pumpkin spice latte habit, and I’m certainly not asking you to stop carving Halloween jack-o-lanterns. Instead, put that pumpkin to work by dropping it off for composting.    

Carving Tricks for the High Country 

If your excitement for Halloween has ever tempted you to carve a pumpkin a few weeks before October 31, you probably learned the hard way that our alpine climate isn’t kind to these festive gourds. Cold nights, bright sun, and dry air mean your masterpiece might not last until Halloween. If you want your festive decoration to last, there are some tips to keep carved pumpkins in top shape for trick or treat night: 

• Carve close to the big night. 

• Bring pumpkins indoors overnight to slow decay. 

Beyond the Pumpkin Patch 

This year, total U.S. Halloween spending is expected to hit a record $13.1 billion — up nearly half a billion from last year. That’s a lot of candy, costumes, and decorations. You don’t have to skip the fun — just think about celebrating a little smarter to decrease cost and waste. Channel your inner Frankenstein and make Halloween greener with these sustainable swaps: 

• Costumes: Most are worn once and made from synthetic (aka plastic) fabrics. Borrow, swap, or thrift instead — or get creative with what’s already in your closet. 

• Decorations: Craft ghosts and bats from cardboard, fabric scraps, or old newspaper. Homemade décor saves money and gives these materials a second life.  

• Treats: Buy candy in bulk and hand out from a bowl to reduce packaging. 

Little changes add up — and they make Halloween just as fun for your wallet as for the planet. 

The Final Treat 

This Halloween, don’t let waste haunt you. Compost your pumpkins, reuse your costumes, and get crafty with decorations. You’ll still have all the spooky fun — just without the scary environmental impact. 

Ask Eartha Steward is written by the staff at the High Country Conservation Center, a nonprofit dedicated to waste reduction and resource conservation. Submit questions to Eartha at info@highcountryconservation.org.