make a pumpkin planter

a hollowed out pumpkin is a great gardening opportunity. just fill your jack-o’-lantern with soil, add your plant of choice, and place the pumpkin in a hole in the ground.

the pumpkin will serve as a great fertilizing alternative for your plant and you will be composting at the same time. for more detailed advice on making a pumpkin planter of your own, look here.

diy face mask

pumpkins are rich in vitamins, so why let them go to waste? pumpkin face masks are simple to make and are great for your skin’s health.

to make your face mask all you need is just two tablespoons of pumpkin puree, half a tablespoon of milk, and half a tablespoon of honey. this mask is best suited for whole, uncarved pumpkins.

there are two options when making your puree. you can make a restaurant-ready puree and use the leftovers to make yourself a treat by following these directions. if you don’t have that kind of time, just scrape out the insides of your pumpkin (sans seeds) and beat it into a pulp.

mix your three ingredients and then you are ready to enjoy all of the vitamins and antioxidants your mask has to offer.

make a snack

if gardening or diy cosmetics are not your thing, there are hundreds of pumpkin recipes available for every skill level. these recipes should be used with pumpkins that have been left whole.

consider making some pumpkin pancakes. all it takes is your average pancake recipe, just add some pumpkin puree — you can even use leftovers from your face mask. a recipe can be found here.

if you are looking for a more savory snack, roasted pumpkin seeds are a simple option as well. just add some salt, butter, and cinnamon to your pumpkin seeds and put them in the oven for about an hour. real simple’s recipe goes into more detail here.

many people are not as motivated to recycle cloth because they can’t just throw those unwanted articles in the recycling bin and must instead lug their pounds of fabric waste to a clothing collection bin or thrift store. worse, the national retail federation expects consumers to spend $2.5 billion on costumes this year, many of which will be tossed. by recycling everyday materials to make your costume, you can avoid a trashy store-bought tragedy and reduce your waste this halloween.

— use what you have: one of the best ways to avoid waste is to use the wardrobe and items you already have to make your costume. you never know how many costume components you already have until you look and some things can be repurposed. 

— get crafty: the possibilities of cardboard and paper are endless. the cardboard collective has tutorials for a mustache, a beard, a hat and even a wig. with some scissors, basic art supplies and a bit of craftiness, you can be a knight, a crocodile or a unicorn using only recyclable materials. add a little paint and you’ll have even more options, or keep it simple with these cute paper emoji masks.

— trash to (halloween) treasure: another great option is to reuse what you already have as waste. do you have a broken umbrella? this cute bat costume uses a black outfit from your closet and an umbrella. if you don’t have a sacrificial umbrella, you can opt to get a clear one and make a jellyfish costume. the idea is to attach fabric, streamers, yarn or bubble wrap to a clear or white umbrella and twirl your way to deep sea glory.

— schedule a costume swap: if you don’t want to make your costume, consider taking out some old costumes and swapping with your friends. just remember that if you end up throwing a costume away, it will join the sad pile of waste at the dump. if you do buy a costume this year, make sure you find some way to reuse it, or donate it after the holiday.

(image at top: children, dressed up for halloween in 1942, at the high point housing project in west seattle. source: staff photographer/seattle post-intelligencer)