VetPartners is trialling zero waste boxes for PPE at 130 of its largest sites across the UK. The boxes are provided by TerraCycle, a company specialising in hard-to-recycle waste, and all types of PPE, including masks, gloves and aprons worn by clinical team members when treating patients, can be disposed of in the boxes as long as they are not contaminated with animal, pharmaceutical or liquid waste.

The National Retail Federation estimates that $2.6 billion was spent on candy for Halloween 2019. Most candy wrappers contain plastic and aluminum and cannot be recycled, says a June 23, 2019 article at candyclub.com. “Recycling mixed materials like candy wrappers or potato chip bags is simply too labor-intensive and expensive to be worth it.” Candy wrappers are often too small to pass through a recycling machine so they are diverted to a landfill where plastics make up almost 20% of all municipal solid waste, says RTS, a waste handling service headquartered in New York.

With the international spread of Covid-19, the global use of face masks or personal protective equipment (PPE) seems set to continue to increase. But keeping ourselves safe should not be at the cost of the planet. Organizations are developing new solutions to reduce the negative impact on the environment. Waste management company TerraCycle has Zero Waste Boxes to collect and recycle PPE, face masks and disposable gloves, explained Julia Chevalier, PR Manager at TerraCycle Europe.

The scariest thing about Halloween isn’t the ghosts, or goblins, or ghouls. It’s the amount of waste generated in celebration of the holiday. From the literal tons (300,000 to be exact) of candy we purchase, individually-wrapped in single-use plastic and often times thrown out before it’s eaten, to the mass amount of decorations big box stores put on display as early as July, we have a Halloween consumption problem. Don’t get spooked yet though! As the St. Louis City Mayor announces Halloween is not canceled, the city has released official guidelines for a safe Halloween. Read on to see our tips for a low-waste holiday.

Tip 1: A Better Halloween Costume

Skip purchasing a brand-new Halloween costume this year and create your own from pieces you already have. Not the crafting-type? See what your friends or family might have in their closets, and arrange a porch drop-off/pick-up. The city is not recommending shopping in-store for costumes, so try calling local thrift stores instead to see what they might have and arrange curbside pick-up (small businesses could use some love). If you do end up purchasing something new, recycle the packaging (if possible) and donate the costume afterward if you don’t plan on re-wearing it. If the costume’s condition is beyond another use, stop by Remains, a local clothing and textile recycling business. Your costume deserves the chance at an enjoyable afterlife, not one trapped haunting a landfill. Don’t forget your reusable face mask!

Tip 2: Earth-Friendly Treats

Most Halloween candy comes individually wrapped in single-use, nonrecyclable plastic, and with Americans having spent roughly $2.6 billion on candy in 2018, that adds up to a lot of plastic waste. Consider passing out a more sustainable option this year. Hershey’s Kisses come wrapped in tin foil and Milk Duds, Junior Mints, and Dots come in cardboard boxes. You could also hand out canned beverages or oranges as another more eco-friendly option as well. As the city asks residents to leave individually wrapped treats out, use paper bags instead of plastic. If you’re wondering what to do with the post-Halloween accumulation of candy wrappers, check out TerraCycle’s recycling program.

Tip 3: Compost Your Pumpkin

1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins are thrown out each year once Halloween has passed. Most of them end up in landfills where they decompose, producing methane, and contributing to climate change. Instead of just trashing your pumpkin, repurpose it! Eat the seeds, make a soup or veggie stock, bake pumpkin bread, or even just compost it in your own backyard. Critters like chickens and squirrels love the tasty treat too.

Tip 4: Decorate DIY-sely

We all know Halloween decorations get cuter and cuter each year, with every Target trip resulting in “just one more” fire mantel addition. However, they aren’t always very sustainable.   If you are looking to shop for new decorations this year, try to shop second-hand first. If shopping new, purchase items you know will last year after year, and before making a purchase, ask yourself if it’s something you really want to add to your collection. Investing in a few well-made decorations is ultimately better than having to repurchase new ones each time Halloween rolls around. Another great option? Nature! Display pumpkins and gourds that can be composted or used for baking once the holiday is over. Leaves, twigs, fall flowers, and hay bales make for great inclusions too.

Tip 5: (Ding-Dong) Ditch the Treat Bucket

Skip the plastic treat bucket this year, and instead use a pillowcase or reusable bag to collect candy with. You’ll save yourself money and you’ll have something that can last you through the years!   Ready to make this Halloween the safest and most spooktacular yet? Try out some of our tips above and tag us in your low-waste Halloween tricks on social media. Remember to social distance, wear a mask, and practice proper handwashing. Happy Halloween from our team to you!   @stlouisearthday

The scariest thing about Halloween isn’t the ghosts, or goblins, or ghouls. It’s the amount of waste generated in celebration of the holiday. From the literal tons (300,000 to be exact) of candy we purchase, individually-wrapped in single-use plastic and often times thrown out before it’s eaten, to the mass amount of decorations big box stores put on display as early as July, we have a Halloween consumption problem. Don’t get spooked yet though! As the St. Louis City Mayor announcesHalloween is not canceled, the city has released official guidelines for a safe Halloween. Read on to see our tips for a low-waste holiday.

Durable, reusable, recyclable Halloween decorations. Choose decorations that you can use year after year. For recyclable decorations, look for plastics that are #1-5 or #7, as #6 and unlabeled plastics are not recyclable. Avoid metallic or glitter-coated decorations, as these cannot be recycled. Questions? Check out icgov.org/recycle.

Most of us use pillows every single night as we sleep and we often lounge on them while we park on couches. Pillows help make us cozy and comfortable, but what do you do with your pillow when it is completely worn out or is damaged beyond repair? There are few options for recycling but pillows have lots of potential for upcycling and reuse. Donating pillows may also be a great way to help you reduce the amount of waste you send to the landfill.

These unprecedented COVID-19 times have underscored that single use materials are still a highly reliable and affordable solution for personal protection. Although this new reality has highlighted the public necessity for these items, it has also brought into stark contrast our vulnerabilities to pollution. Between the end of February and mid-April this year, more than a billion items of personal protective equipment were given out in the UK alone. This spike in consumption is forcing us to rethink our attitude to recycling and find a sustainable solution for this kind of waste, which would otherwise end up in landfill or often simply be littered on the streets. As the leading experts in traditionally “non-recyclable” waste, TerraCycle provides a unique recycling solution for all types of single-use PPE, which aren’t recyclable through conventional recycling facilities, giving them a new life in a variety of forms.