Going Green - Halloween Leftovers

 What’s left behind on Nov. 1 after the Halloween revelries is more than a pile of candy wrappers. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), Americans plan to spend $4.4 billion on Halloween costumes and $4.3 billion on decorations this year, compared with $4.1 billion on candy. Once the porch lights go off, all of that has to go somewhere, and candy wrappers are only the start. Add in costumes that won’t make it another year, string lights that stopped working, and party decorations that have done their job. Many of these items are hard to recycle and are not typically accepted in curbside recycling. TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Box solution gives families, schools, and businesses a way to collect and recycle these items instead of sending them to landfills or incinerators.

“Halloween is no longer just about candy. Americans now spend more on costumes and decorations than on treats, and when the season ends, none of it should end up in landfills or incinerators,” said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle. “Every kind of Halloween waste needs its own path to recycling, and our Zero Waste Box solution gives families, schools, and businesses a simple way to collect and recycle each one, from the candy wrapper to the costume to the string lights. All of it can be recycled into raw materials that manufacturers can use to make new products.”

Laying Costumes to Rest

Not every costume survives to haunt another Halloween. The NRF found that 34% of shoppers plan to look for items they can reuse in future years or repurpose for other occasions, and a costume that still fits the bill can be packed away for next year or passed along. For the ones that can’t be worn again, the destination matters. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 11.3 million tons of textiles went to landfills in 2018, and another 3.2 million tons were incinerated. Only 14.7% were recycled. TerraCycle’s Fabrics and Clothing - Zero Waste Box and Zero Waste Bag accept clothing, fabric, and textiles, so worn-out costumes can be collected and recycled instead.

No Tricks, Just Treat Wrappers

Every trick-or-treat haul leaves a trail of wrappers behind. Most are made from a mix of materials, including polypropylene, aluminum foil, and paper, which makes them tricky to recycle. TerraCycle^® has collected and recycled millions of candy wrappers and snack packaging through its Zero Waste Boxes to date. The Candy and Snack Wrappers - Zero Waste Box and Zero Waste Bag accept all brands of flexible plastic-based candy and snack packaging, as well as plastic foil-lined wrappers and blister packs. 

When the Lights Go Out

When the haunted house comes down, the décor needs somewhere to go. TerraCycle’s Holiday and Party Decorations - Zero Waste Box accepts LED string lights, banners, garlands, balloons, streamers, and confetti, and the Party Decorations - Zero Waste Bag takes Halloween party leftovers like signs, party hats, and table decorations. That way, decorations that have done their job can be collected and recycled instead of ending up in landfills. 

Each Zero Waste Box and bag works the same way. Order online at terracycle.com, have it shipped to your door, fill it with accepted items, then seal it and send it back using the prepaid shipping label. TerraCycle sorts the materials and recycles them into raw materials that manufacturers can use to make new products. TerraCycle, the leader in recycling complex waste streams, created Zero Waste Boxes to provide solutions for hard-to-recycle waste that isn’t typically recycled through local recycling services.

To learn more about TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Box solution or to order, visit terracycle.com.

About TerraCycle

TerraCycle is an international leader in innovative sustainability solutions, creating and operating first-of-their-kind platforms in recycling, recycled materials, and reuse. Across 18 countries, TerraCycle is on a mission to eliminate the idea of waste and develop practical solutions for today’s complex waste challenges. The company engages an expansive multi-stakeholder community, from Fortune 500 companies to schools and households, across a wide range of accessible programs and has raised millions for schools and nonprofits since its founding more than 20 years ago. To learn more about TerraCycle and join them on their journey to move the world from a linear economy to a circular one, please visit terracycle.com.