plastic waste Archives

Table Of Contents

Earth-friendly Halloween Costumes
Earth-friendly Halloween Decorations
Happy Halloween Banner
Candy

Halloween is the time of years where our little ghouls and goblins roam the streets. It’s one of Canada’s favorite traditions filled with sweet treats and fun costumes. Kids love the festivities with decorations and games. Each year we hand out over 400 million dollars of packaged chocolate bars, gumballs, taffy, and lollipops. But, it’s a plastic and polyester nightmare! Yet, some of the happiest memories are made during this spooky time of year. In the midst, of all these spooktacular memories have you wondered how much goes in the trash? Since research estimates, the amount of plastic thrown away by clothing alone is 2000 tonnes a year! Find out how you can change your habits and become an Earth-friendly Halloween shopper.

Earth-friendly Halloween Costumes

Unfortunately, the textiles used in costumes are primarily polyester. The man-made material is a polluting oil-based plastic that won’t biodegrade. It’s a Franken cloth that truly will spook you and the kids! It will also, give your grandchildren’s kids a fright too. It’s not easy being eco-friendly during Halloween that’s why I want to give you these great ideas.

As parents, we want to give the kids a good time but not at the expense of our planet. Natural products were once at the core of celebrations in the past. The celebrations would only involve natural materials. For example in the very beginning animal hides were used as costumes. I don’t think anybody wants to go back to those days but there certainly is a compromise.

If your searching for a costume it’s best to find one that has already been used. Buying a brand new polyester costume only makes the problem worse. Don’t use your money to support a company that uses cheap and dirty threads. Instead of handing over our money to support a company that uses polyester, buy used. It’s important to reuse the costumes that are already out there! The thrift store, Varagesale, or Facebook marketplace has lots of options.

Earth-friendly Halloween Decorations

There are not many times of the year that you can decorate with hay bales! This is the most perfect way to set up a display in your doorway. Your pumpkins and gourds will give your entrance a beautiful framework. When you decorate with natural decorations people really take notice and you’ll get lots of compliments. I promise. Every Halloween display needs a banner and I recommend looking for burlap material. I found burlap garland one Christmas at the dollar store. But, you can find burlap bags at a farm or grocery store near you.

Happy Halloween Banner

Cut the burlap into a 4.5×4.5 inch square

You will need 14 squares

Use Mineral paint to write one letter onto each square

Cut a piece of string (jute or hemp) to size

Make sure there is a small gap between the letters and a large gap between the words

Adhere the burlap squares to the string with eco-friendly glue

You should look for eco-friendly glue because the glue we use today is made with formaldehyde. This cancer-causing chemical is a good enough reason to find an alternative. So, the alternative for your craft drawer is a product that contains soy protein, carbohydrates, and lignan. It is both strong and water-resistant.

Mineral paint is an environmentally friendly option since it does not contain lead ammonia or formaldehyde. This unique formulation is non-toxic and has no odor! It’s a wonderful eco-friendly choice for any project which needs painting.

Finally, decorations can be found for free in the Natural Environment. You don’t have to break the bank to decorate since there is beauty in your neighborhood. If you live in an area near marshland then bull reeds make a beautiful arrangement. You can also use Pampas grass flowers which accent the arrangement with texture for your home.

Candy

One of the biggest issues with Halloween today is the massive amounts of overpackaging. The waste from those tiny little chocolate bars is crazy! The wrappers cannot be recycled using the blue bins at home. They’re single-use packaging that’s slowly but surely polluting the planet. But, what could we possibly give out to other people’s children that are considered safe?

Hershey kisses have tin foil wrapping and it can be recycled. But, most people don’t know that! So, these little kisses are a good alternative. But, the candy industry must change their packaging so we can truly make a difference.

If you’re that person that would rather hand out something healthy then apples, oranges, and bananas are a good option. Get creative! Give them a face by drawing with a felt pen. Kids will appreciate a vampire banana or a Jack O Lantern orange.

Most families look forward to Halloween every year. It’s a custom that has been celebrated for the past 2000 years. Therefore this tradition will always be a part of our lives and enjoyed for future generations. As a conscious Earth-friendly Halloween shopper, we need to change our ways and vote with our dollars. The costume and candy companies don’t make it easy for us, but do you know of a company that’s raised the bar? Let me know.

For more Halloween facts check out these truly scary links

Plastic waste from Halloween

Why we celebrate Halloween

Science Daily

Halloween by the numbers

A typical day may inevitably end up at the grocery store to pick up last-minute items. Browsing the options are vast and when comparison shopping the plastic problem isn’t top of mind! Most people will look at the price or condition of the product.

For Instance, If you have two heads of lettuce which look-alike sitting next to one another. One wrapped in foil the other lettuce wrapped with a rubber band. Would you think twice and pick up the right one? Some would just look at the Lettuce and decide which one looks most delicious and wouldn’t notice its packaging.

I maneuver through the aisles of the grocery store on autopilot while searching for ingredients. However, I’m usually distracted by thoughts of what needs to be done before dinner and work-related annoyances! Chances are if you’re like I was then you might not even think twice either!

So the big question is how do we keep the plastic problem in our thoughts? How can I remember to stop and analyze what to do at the right moment? What will it take to reach for the product with the least packaging? If we question ourselves once a day then we can make an impact! If just 100 people said no when asked if they’d like a plastic bag the world would be better off!

How to avoid a plastic problem

There are ways that we can pressure our local supermarket to provide biodegradable bags in the produce section. Talk to the Store Manager, drop a note in their comment box. If they don’t have one write them a short letter and mail it. Social media is a hot spot for retailers and they’re super sensitive about reviews. Create a google review and ask them why they don’t supply biodegradable bags.

Another way to avoid unnecessary plastic is to avoid picking up the over-packaged produce. Let it rot at the store and eventually, the Manager will realize what’s going on! They’ll either notify the grower or just stop bringing the product in altogether. Retailers are watching our trends, and analyzing our every move. They’re always looking to make money on trends in order to capitalize on our basic desires. They make it their business to know what the customer cares about.

Use your own bags

Even though we’re busy and the last thing we think about is reusable bags. As a conscious shopper, we’ve got to remember them on the way out the door. I found 100% Biodegradable Produce Bags which are nylon, bleach, pesticide, and polyester free. and contain no chemical dyes. Above all, they won’t last 400 years!! Throw a dozen apples, oranges, potatoes in or whatever your heart desires. When large chain supermarkets are not changing their ways we have to take it upon ourselves to start the change. However, we must let the Store know about the inconvenience or else action won’t happen and the Manager won’t think it’s a problem. Squeaky wheels get the grease!

Write a Letter to your MLA

Contact your local MLA. Contact Us: British Columbia MLA Guide

These folks have their seats because of you. Let them hear consumer complaints, they work for us and we are their clients. Pass on consumer sentiment to their office using the link above copy and paste this template into an email and hit send.

Dear (First name) (Last name)

As a proud B.C. resident and your constituent, one of the biggest concerns is the excessive use of non-biodegradable plastic in local grocery stores. Controlling how plastic is disposed of is a problem and the government has taken strides to remedy trash through an extensive recycling program. However, the global issue of plastics has increasingly become an extreme environmental issue and the government has the responsibility to take people’s efforts to the next level. Sorting plastics does not reduce the amount of plastic that is used unnecessarily on a daily basis. If there is one thing the governments can do to make a change it’s by banning single-use plastic in grocery stores. Over packaging and single-use plastics can be found in the following:

Roles of Plastic bags in the produce section
Cashier Plastic bags
Plastic packaging used for fruit and vegetables
Salad Containers
Pre-Bagged produce (plastic mesh)

The Government has the ability to reduce the amount of single-use plastics in local grocery stores and it’s time we take a stand against companies that use plastics to bag or cover produce. There are biodegradable options that should be used to implement current packaging practices. Guidelines must be established to limit plastic use and encourage hemp plastic in mainstream packaging. I strongly encourage you to remind Premier John Horgan the BC government has an obligation to be an environmental steward.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

(Insert name), (City/Town)

The trick to cleaning up our environment quicker is finding ways of reducing the number of plastics in local stores. I think the government has done a good job to ensure we recycle our products but the hard part is reducing over-packaged items at the grocery store. Plastics are man-made; they do not occur in nature. Soooo if it’s not naturally occurring it really shouldn’t even exist. We’re quickly moving up the creek without a plug or a paddle!

It’s not easy to fix the plastic problem. But, if we ask ourselves one question at the right time it can make the difference. Plastic is a huge part of our lives it can be shaped into any form, it protects, encases, becomes tools, and is an integral part of so many gadgets. Our society has come to depend on them! This rudimentary thought should be labeled “Plastic Psychology.” Seriously I think I’m going to need a shrink to get me through a shopping trip!

Tag: plastic waste

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