Somerset Council

Learn the tricks to a greener Halloween

carved pumpkins

According to Hubbub millions of pumpkins still go to waste each Halloween.
Pumpkins are meant to be eaten and far too often the scary truth is they end up in the food waste bin... or worse left out on the doorstep to rot.

Scare off food waste this Halloween

Did you know that carving pumpkins are edible? Better still, why not decorate instead of carve to make it last for longer! Here's some no-carve inspiration courtesy of Hububb.

Eat your pumpkin

Everything but the stalk can be eaten. Find out more about how to eat your pumpkin, or visit Love Food Hate Waste for plenty of fang-tastic pumpkin recipes.

And if your pumpkin has to go – make sure you recycle the remains so that they're given a second life, either via your food waste recycling or on a compost heap. Recycled food waste is turned into fertilizer for our farms and electricity, feeding the national grid.

What’s scary about Halloween?... Single-use costumes!

Say no to single-use:

  • Why not check your local charity shops to find pre-loved costumes, or perhaps pick up clothing that you can upcycle into a costume?
  • Arrange a clothes swap with friends and classmates.
  • Check sites such as Freegle, Vinted or Facebook Marketplace for cheap second-hand costumes and clothes
  • Could you re-purpose last years costume?