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5 Halloween Recycling Horrors You Should Avoid
Halloween can be a scary time in recycling facilities. Many of the items handed out to trick-or-treaters or used for decoration aren’t recyclable, yet they still wind up in the recycling container.Byline: BTB Editor
October 26, 2018 / Time to read: 5 minHalloween can be a scary time in recycling facilities. Many of the items handed out to trick-or-treaters or used for decoration aren’t recyclable, yet they still wind up in the recycling container. It can be a real nightmare!
Republic Services is here to save you from becoming a recycling horror story. Here are five Halloween items that shouldn’t be recycled:
- Candy wrappers: Those candy wrappers may feel like plastic, but they’re considered a mixed material and therefore aren’t recyclable. If you have the misfortune of getting a box of raisins in your trick-or-treating loot, you can toss the box in your recycling container. Another tip: Never try to recycle anything smaller than a credit card.
- Pumpkins: They’re not recyclable, but they don’t necessarily have to go in your trash. Whether whole or carved into jack-o-lanterns, pumpkins can be disposed of in your
yard waste bin, if you have one. Pumpkins also may becomposted . - Costumes: Fabric costumes and latex masks can be reused, but not recycled. You can always save the costume and repurpose it for next year, or use as a dress-up costume that kids can play with year-round. Check
Earth911 for clothing donation sites near you. - Makeup: Tins and tubes of face paint and fake blood aren’t recyclable. Even if the container is made from plastic or metal, it most likely is contaminated by goopy residue. It’s better just to throw it away.
- Spooky lighting: Strings of lights will haunt your local recycling facility by getting tangled in the sorting equipment, so don’t place these items in your recycling bin. However, there are mail-in recycling programs available, or you can throw them in the trash.
Though residents have the best intentions, they aren’t always recycling the right items. In fact, more than 30% of what goes into residential recycling containers today shouldn’t be there.
But by following a few simple guidelines, we all can be better recyclers. Know what to throw; make sure items are empty, clean and dry; and keep recyclables loose – never in bags or containers.
For more simple recycling tips and resources, visit
