The real horror of Halloween

The panic usually sets in around late September to mid October. The “I have no idea what I’m going to be for Halloween” panic. So we buy more than one costume, typically for multiple parties. After all, the costumes, candy and decorations are all essential parts of this spooky holiday.

Then November first rolls around and most of it ends up in the garbage. Millions of Halloween costumes are discarded every year and made of non–recyclable synthetic materials like polyester. An estimated one billion pounds of real pumpkins go to waste in landfills, rather than being composted or eaten. There is a heavy reliance on single–use, fast–fashion decorations rather than durable reusable decor. The desire to have an “aesthetic” Halloween or societal expectations pushed by social media end up contributing to the extreme consumerism and waste.

Halloween evolved from Celtic spiritual rituals and many of the traditions were brought to America by Irish and Scottish immigrants during the 19th century. However, after World War II, Halloween became more about mass–produced, store–bought costumes and decor, rather than the traditional pranks that were popular in previous generations. Companies monetized the holiday, making it the second most commercialized holiday behind Christmas.

Today, companies like Spirit Halloween turn vacant retail spaces into temporary stores. They offer costumes, decor, candy, animatronics and more, incentivizing customers to buy more than is necessary. In 2025 alone, Americans spent $13.1 billion on costumes, decor and candy. Big businesses encourage consumers to purchase their products by showcasing their wares as early as August. In a study done by the National Retail Federation in 2026, 49% of consumers planned on beginning Halloween shopping in September or earlier, compared with 34% in 2016.

Every Halloween, significant waste is created at the expense of a single–day holiday. Around 60% of the pumpkins carved are dumped in landfills. While decomposing, whole pumpkins produce methane and can take up to 20 years to fully break down. Cutting them into

pieces or composting cuts takes up to eight weeks. Candy is sold in non–recyclable plastic wrappers or foil that can easily end up in our waterways and oceans. The synthetic materials, like polyester, in cheap costumes generate about 2,000 tons of textile waste annually. These materials can take up to 200 years to fully decompose.

Halloween can be an entertaining holiday, filled with candy and costumes. However, it should not come at the cost of our environment. Consumer culture has commercialized holidays, using social media to incentivise us to buy unnecessary items. This year, instead of buying three different costumes, borrow a costume or consider DIY. Opt for reusable decorations that will last at least a couple of years and properly compost carved pumpkins. 

We should be choosing to protect our environment and not fall into this trap set by materialistic companies and persistent social media promotion. We can celebrate Halloween and a plethora of other holidays without overconsuming.

-HKM