The scariest thing on Halloween might just be all the waste it generates! 

When you go trick-or-treating, you may be wondering what to do with all those wrappers. To reduce your waste, the best thing to do is politely refuse any candy that won't get eaten in the first place. Most candy wrappers are not recyclable. This is because they are made of mixed materials, most of the time plastic and foil (called "metallised plastic"). But what candy packaging can you recycle, and what goes in the trash? 

Gray Bin (Trash)

• Candy wrappers are trash! Wrappers from Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, Kit-Kats, Twix, etc. all belong in the garbage. 
• Waxy wrappers from a Starburst or bubble gum are trash, but these are a great craft material! Try following a tutorial to use them in a paper chain. 

Blue Bin (Recycle)

• Hard plastic canisters, like a tube of Mini M&Ms
• Boxes, like a box of Nerds or Dots
• Aluminum foil, like from a peanut butter cup or a Hershey's Kiss. These are unable to be recycled individually; to recycle, save them up and roll them all together into a ball until it's about the size of a tennis ball. Then they can be recycled as one ball in your blue bin.  
• Make sure that any food packages that go into the recycle are clean and free of food residue. 

Green Bin (Organics)

• Any unfinished, unpackaged candy belongs in your green bin, like all food waste. 
• Paper lollypop sticks, like from a Tootsie Roll Pop (only paper sticks, not plastic ones)

Don't trash uneaten candy! Look for donation opportunities, like the Treats for Troops program. 

Here are some more waste reducing tips for this upcoming spooky season: 

1. When trick-or-treating, choose a small bag and finish up for the night when the bag is full. This ensures you won't take more candy than you'll finish. 
    
2. Shop second-hand for your Halloween costume. Don't waste money on a costume that's only going to be worn for one night. Many thrift stores in our area have rolled out racks of barely-worn costumes that rival the selection at any retail store. Often the best starting point for a creative, original costume is your own closet! 
    
3. Compost your pumpkin. When your jack-o-lantern starts to rot away, you can throw it directly into your green bin curbside, where it will be brought to a local composter!