Behind the fun and fright of Halloween lies a growing environmental nightmare. From 2022 to 2024, celebrations have generated staggering amounts of plastic, textile, and food waste, creating a significant ecological footprint.
This report details 11 major incidents that expose how single-use costumes, discarded pumpkins, and plastic decorations are turning the festive season into a source of severe pollution and resource wastage across the globe.
#1 US Halloween Creates 5 Million kg of Textile Waste
Halloween 2025 in the US celebrations generated an environmental crisis, with an estimated 35 million discarded costumes contributing to over 5 million kilograms of textile waste — equivalent to 83 million plastic bottles. Most costumes were made from polyester and petroleum-based plastics, worn once and thrown away. Along with candy wrappers and plastic decorations, these non-recyclable materials have ended up in landfills, worsening pollution levels. Environmental experts blame single-use consumer habits and mass retail production of low-cost, synthetic costumes for driving the surge in waste, urging stricter recycling regulations and promotion of sustainable, reusable Halloween products.
#2 UK’s £1 Billion Halloween Market Fuels Plastic Crisis
The UK’s Halloween market, worth over £1 billion, generated an environmental crisis with 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste. Studies revealed that 83% of costumes contained non-recyclable, oil-based plastics, and 46 million disposable items were discarded after a single use, making Halloween the country’s largest source of plastic waste from a single annual event.
#3 Over 1 Billion Pounds of US Pumpkins Wasted
Post-Halloween 2024, the United States discarded more than 1 billion pounds of pumpkins, most of which ended up rotting in landfills. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, this decomposition process releases large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Despite being edible, most pumpkins used for carving were thrown away instead of being composted or repurposed.
#4 Guernsey’s “Scary” Pumpkin Waste Problem
In Guernsey in 2025, thousands of pumpkins were discarded after Halloween festivities, with their edible parts needlessly thrown away. Local waste officials described a “scary amount” of organic waste, compounded by single-use plastics from sweets and costumes. Despite advisories to compost and reuse, most materials ended up as general waste.
#5 UK Wastes 18,000 Tonnes of Edible Pumpkins
The UK wasted approximately 18,000 tonnes of pumpkins after Halloween, as 95% of the 10 million pumpkins grown for decoration were discarded. These pumpkins, often carved into lanterns, decomposed in landfills and released methane gas. This trend highlighted a severe issue of seasonal food waste directly linked to the festival.
#6 Ireland’s €3.7 Million Halloween Food Waste
A survey in Ireland revealed that Halloween celebrations led to an estimated €3.7 million worth of food being wasted. Causes included food going off before use (45%), bulk buying (30%), and poor meal planning (24%). Despite rising grocery prices, significant food waste persisted, with 87% of consumers expressing concern.
#7 Australia’s Growing Halloween Waste Problem
Halloween 2024 in Australia generated significant plastic and food waste, with A$430 million spent on single-use costumes, sweets, and decorations. Environmental experts also warned that fake cobweb decorations posed threats to wildlife, underscoring the festival’s expanding ecological impact in the country.
#8 Illegal Bonfires Cause Toxic Pollution in Ireland
In Clare County, Ireland, illegal Halloween bonfires burned waste materials like wood and furniture, releasing toxic fumes and creating environmental pollution. These unregulated fires, fueled by household and business waste, resulted in significant illegal disposal and debris, challenging local authorities.
#9 Mounting Pumpkin and Plastic Waste in UK and US
Halloween 2024 saw 18,000 tonnes of pumpkins wasted in the UK and over 1 billion pounds in the US, releasing harmful methane in landfills. Plastic wrappers from sweets and decorations also contributed heavily to non-recyclable waste, with each trick-or-treating child generating about 0.5 kg of trash.
#10 Hazardous Battery Waste Surge in UK
The UK saw a dangerous surge in lithium battery waste from Halloween vapes and electronic decorations. Improper disposal caused 1,200 fires in waste facilities in 2023. Damaged lithium-ion cells can ignite, posing severe health, safety, and environmental hazards due to irresponsible post-festival disposal.
#11 £32.6 Million Pumpkin Waste in the UK
In the UK, 22.2 million out of 39.9 million pumpkins bought for Halloween were wasted, resulting in a £32.6 million food loss. Perfectly edible pumpkins rotted in landfills, emitting methane. Additionally, 800,000 apples were discarded daily, often after apple-bobbing, fueled by social media trends and limited food redistribution efforts.
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