Today we take a quick break from LEED certification, green schools and other recurring eco-issues in this blog to focus on what’s really important: Candy. As you know, tomorrow is Halloween and that means you’re making last minute preparations, whether it’s picking up confections for trick-or-treaters or picking out a costume. But just because it’s a holiday doesn’t mean you have to take a break from going green. Try these easy and eco-friendly tips as you celebrate:

• Reduce Waste: Trick or treat with canvas bags, small plastic buckets with handles, or even a pillow case. This helps reduce the waste you create with disposable plastic and paper bags. At parties, use your regular cups instead of plastic and paper cups - just don’t leave the faucet on too long when you’re washing up afterward.
• Check Your Costume: Are you wearing a plastic costume that contains toxic PVCs? Can you re-use parts of this year’s costume for future Halloweens? Are you wearing or using any paper or plastic products that you can recycle afterward? These are all valid questions to ask not only for this year, but for future years as you find ways to go green.
• Minimize the Packaging: I like putting out Snickers and other packaged candy for trick-or-treaters as much as anyone else, but remember that buying bags of them for Halloween eventually leads to more little wrappers going into landfills. Try baking cookies or handing out fruit, which comes with its own natural and biodegradable packaging.

Anyway, those are just a few quick ways you can go green for Halloween. Have fun, and if you have any tips or insight of your own, let us know below.

(Photo via Morguefile)