This spooky season some people are opting to recycle old costumes in a bid to make Halloween more sustainable B次元官网网址� and affordable.
Events promoting costume swapping, recycling or mending are popping up in communities across the country, and one expert says theyB次元官网网址檙e sorely needed to counter the overconsumption and waste that Halloween triggers every year.
Oana Branzei, a professor of strategy and sustainability at Western University, says Halloween costumes represent B次元官网网址渢he most harmful form of consumptionB次元官网网址� since theyB次元官网网址檙e typically made of multiple types of polyesters and plastics that are difficult to break down. TheyB次元官网网址檙e also often marketed as single-use products and end up in the landfill after just one wear.
B次元官网网址淭hey have different materials that are never separated and therefore they end up in the B次元官网网址� longest-term decomposing piles,B次元官网网址� Branzei said.
One Nova Scotia municipality is citing its waste reduction efforts as the inspiration for a B次元官网网址淐ostume Fix B次元官网网址榥B次元官网网址� SwapB次元官网网址� event later this month, where people can drop off unwanted Halloween costumes, grab used ones and get someone to fix damaged trick-or-treating outfits.
Organizers of the Oct. 19 event in East Hants, north of Halifax, say someone with cosplaying experience will also provide advice on making budget-friendly costumes.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 about 30,000 tons of textiles landfilled in Nova Scotia each year, so this event really ensures that some of that gets diverted,B次元官网网址� said the municipalityB次元官网网址檚 waste compliance officer, Ciera Robinson.
Textiles are the fifth largest type of plastic waste sent to Canadian landfills, with approximately 280 kilotons of synthetic textile products discarded in 2020, according to the federal government. Synthetic textiles are made from materials such as polyester, nylon and acrylic B次元官网网址� all common elements in Halloween costumes and decorations.
Rise Consignment, a thrift shop in Victoria, will be holding its first-ever Halloween costume swap on Tuesday, with a focus on promoting sustainability. The shop is charging a $10 fee for the swap, with all proceeds going to a local organization supporting youth.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e just in the past kind of tried to educate people around this time of year about how wasteful Halloween can be and why they donB次元官网网址檛 need a brand-new plastic costume,B次元官网网址� store owner Rylie Tarry said, adding that the goal is to B次元官网网址渆ncourage people away from buying new, and buying crappy things.B次元官网网址�
TOKKI, a Toronto-based childrenB次元官网网址檚 second-hand clothing store, held a seasonal swap last week with more than 75 kids turning up to get a Halloween costume. This was the seventh year the shop has hosted a costume swap.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a great way to just reuse other kidsB次元官网网址� things from the year before,B次元官网网址� TOKKI owner Amanda Newman said. B次元官网网址淗aving the opportunity to just swap out a costume rather than have to buy one also makes it a more affordable option and maybe a little less stressful in picking one as well.B次元官网网址�
Branzei, the Western University professor, said she hopes Halloween costume swaps will lead to broader conversations about other forms of waste.
B次元官网网址淭his is a lever of change that has immediate impact. The material problems are the costumes, but the underlying problem is our consumption habits,B次元官网网址� Branzei said.
