Green Halloween tips

• Once a Celtic celebration of the harvest and a new season, Halloween is now a little less spiritual and a lot more commercial; total up candy sales, costume shopping, and decorations, and it's an industry worth almost $6 billion a year. With that kind of consumption comes a hefty carbon footprint and an environmental impact that lasts long after you've see the last of those fun-size Snickers bars.

• Luckily, the basics of Halloween—spooky tales, playing dress-up, things that go bump in the night—don't require massive quantities of cash or a wasteful amount of resources as long as you're willing to think ahead and let your imagination run wild. Making your own costume will put a huge dent in the consumerism of the holiday (and earn you more than a few impressed glances at the office party)—and we'd bet you'll find the materials right in front of you, if you just look around. Simple makeup designs and hairstyles created with natural products can give your look extra impact, and your home gets a makeover of its own with biodegradable decorations from the local farmers' market (plus you're still celebrating the harvest!). As for the sweeter side of Halloween, indulge your sugar habit with Fair Trade and organic chocolate, lollipops, jellybeans, and candy bars.

• Dress down. Rather than buy a new costume you (or your child) will only wear once and throw away, make one out of clothes and fabrics you already have. You can also get terrific "costumes" at thrift shops and yard sales. Swap costumes with neighbors and friends. Donate your kids' used costumes to day care centers or shelters.

• Bag it. Send your kids out to collect their candy with reusable buckets, canvas bags or pillowcases.

• Redecorate. Keep Halloween decorations from year to year so you don't need to buy new ones each season.

• Recycle. Once Halloween is over, recycle your pumpkins, the straw you used to build scarecrows and any other organic material by composting it. The compost can be used as fertilizer for your garden.

• Teach your children. Urge your children to dispose of their candy wrappers in their bags or in trash cans rather than on the street.

• Keep it simple. When you're buying treats to give out, choose items that come in a minimum amount of packaging. Some folks skip the candy altogether in favor of useable treats like pencils, pens, funky erasers and even nickels!

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