A Happy Green Halloween

From costumes to treats to parties, slip some eco-consciousness into the revelry this Halloween -- we bet you’ll find that going green can save you money.

• Use reusable canvas bags for trick-or-treating this Halloween. Decorate a bags using fabric markers or paints. Or re-use a paper grocery bag with handles – your child can customize it with with ghosts and ghouls galore.

• For lots of kids -- and many adults -- dressing up is at least half the fun. Arrange a costume swap with friends and neighbors, buy second-hand costumes, or get costume raw materials at a thrift store and get creative.
  
  
• Center for Environmental Health recommends avoiding vinyl masks and plastic/vinyl teeth. No need for poisonous plastics -- Halloween in scary enough as is.

The links below provide a variety of great ideas for trick-or-treating, parties and crafts that will keep the focus on fun:

• About.com's simple tips for greening your Halloween
• Green Halloween: healthier and more earth-friendly holidays
  
• Ecofabulous: Guide to a Chic and Green Halloween and
• National Costume Swap Day

Halloween Costume Swap at Oxford Elementary School, Berkeley, CA