Can't Spell "Costume" Without "Cost"

Ariel Mualim

One person’s trash may be another person’s treasure, but Halloween leaves behind plenty of both. OCSA Halloween is the school’s sacred tradition where students craft cardboard props, construct remarkably detailed cosplays and show off their creations at OCSA’s costume competitions.

From trick-or-treating to carving jack-o’-lanterns to decorating porches with cobwebs and inflatable ghosts, Halloween traditions have not changed much over the years.  According to the National Retail Federation, Americans spent a record of $13.1 billion, nationally, last Halloween on costumes, candy and decorations.

However, Halloween spending comes at a cost most people are unaware of after the holiday has passed. According to Hubbub, a charity in the United Kingdom, approximately 69 percent of Halloween costumes are made of oil-based plastics such as polyester. These materials can take between 20 to 200 years to decompose, meaning that a costume worn for a single night may last longer than the person who wore it. In total, the waste from these costumes add up to 2,000 tons annually, which is the equivalent to 83 million plastic bottles. Much of this comes down to how costumes are treated compared to everyday clothing; they are designed and bought for a single night, then discarded or forgotten as soon as November arrives — leaving little opportunity for recycling.

In addition, waste from pumpkins makes a dent in the environment’s health. According to ZME Science, an online science news publication, over 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins produced in the United States every year are thrown into landfills where they release methane as they rot. Unlike costumes, pumpkins are biodegradable, so it’s important how they are disposed of. If composted, pumpkins break down cleanly and serve as fertilizer for other plants. 

Lastly, while candy waste may not seem like a concern, it’s actually one of the most intense waste issues to solve. In 2024, the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup — the world’s largest volunteer cleanup — collected over 1.4 million food wrappers, including candy wrappers. This issue involving the disposal of candy wrappers is largely due to their composition, which is a mixture of plastic and foil that is hard to recycle; so once the candy is eaten, the wrapper becomes trash by design.

On a brighter note, there are many convenient ways for people to reduce and recycle Halloween waste. OCSA’s costume competitions already show that students are capable of resourcefulness and creativity. Building an impressive project from scratch proves that reducing waste through reuse is possible. But not everyone needs to become a master at cosplaying or design to help. Something as simple as composting jack-o’-Lanterns, recycling Halloween materials for next year or donating old costumes and candy would already be contributing to the reduction of Halloween’s environmental footprint.

All in all, Halloween will forever hold a special place in our hearts, especially at OCSA. The environmental toll of this celebration is real and worth acknowledging, but so is how little it takes to lower it. Whether a costume was received from Amazon a day before Halloween or whether it was carefully crafted for months in advance, what happens to materials and decor after the festivities is what matters most. Any small change in habit can reduce the environmental harm of a beloved holiday. Happy Halloween!