To celebrate Earth Day’s 52nd anniversary of environmental action, Earth911 introduces 52 Actions for the Earth. Here is a step you can take to invest in the Earth and lead a more sustainable life. As shoppers start buying Halloween decorations in July, let’s plan ahead to reduce the environmental impact of this spooky holiday.
Even if you’re not a fan of sweets, you probably enjoy some Halloween candy each year. However, all those candy wrappers contribute to a significant waste issue. This week, you can contribute to Earth’s well-being by recycling candy wrappers.
Action: Recycle Wrappers
Wrapper Waste
Halloween candy is a favorite for many, but it presents challenges for ethical consumers. Avoiding individually wrapped, fun-sized candies in October is quite difficult due to the sheer volume of candy purchased during the Halloween season. This contributes to waste and environmental concerns.
Recycling Dilemma
Candy wrappers cannot be recycled traditionally as they are made of multiple materials, making recovery challenging and costly. Moreover, their small size increases the likelihood of them ending up as plastic pollution in the ocean. However, there are opportunities to recycle them through specific programs.
Holiday Opportunity
Although individual candy wrappers are not cost-effective to recycle, there are mail-in recycling programs that accept bulk candy wrappers. Companies like TerraCycle and Rubicon offer solutions for recycling Halloween candy wrappers. Consider participating in these programs to reduce waste and promote sustainability.
Act swiftly to obtain your recycling box for Halloween and potentially repeat the process for other holidays like Easter. Let’s make a positive impact and reduce waste for a more sustainable future.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on October 14, 2022, and was updated in July 2024.
