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Home My WebLink AboutCity of Diamond Bar EnviroLink- October 2025**DO NOT open unknown links or any attachments without confirming with IS or the sender directly.** CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. <https://www.diamondbarca.gov/Areas/CivicSend/Assets/Uploads/4600/657fa09778fa469396f42a39a5f57d7e_optimized.jpg> October 2025 <https://www.diamondbarca.gov/Areas/CivicSend/Assets/Uploads/4600/22bc4f904fd74bffb305e91ae775771c_optimized.jpg> Celebrate Halloween with Eco-Friendly Treats and Costumes Halloween is all about fun, creativity, and treats, but it can also generate a significant amount of waste. This year, try making Halloween a little greener with these sustainable ideas for treats and costumes that are kinder to the planet but just as festive and fun! Eco-Friendly Treat Alternatives * Seed Packets: Little packets of wildflower or herb seeds make unique, earth-friendly treats. Kids can plant them at home and watch them grow, making Halloween memorable long after October 31. * Fresh Fruit: Apples, clementines, or bananas make excellent alternatives to traditional Halloween candy. These treats are nutritious, plastic-free, and compostable. * Creative Mini Gifts: Crayons, mini coloring books, small notebooks, wooden puzzles, yo-yos, or finger puppets make fantastic non-candy treats for Halloween. These items encourage creativity, and, when chosen from sustainable materials like wood or recycled plastic, offer an eco-friendly surprise for little ones. Sustainable Costume Ideas * DIY Costumes from Home: Instead of buying a new costume, make your own using items you already have. Using old clothes, cardboard, and craft supplies can be transformed into creative, one-of-a-kind costumes. * Thrifted or Borrowed Costumes: Check out your local thrift store for Halloween costumes or swap costumes with friends and neighbors. Thrifting is a fun way to find unique pieces without the waste of buying new. * Nature-Inspired Costumes: Use natural materials like flowers, leaves, or sticks to create a woodland fairy, tree, or forest creature costume. These elements bring a touch of nature to your costume, while also avoiding synthetic materials and plastics. Bonus Tip: Use Reusable Bags for Trick-or-Treating Instead of plastic bags, encourage kids to bring reusable cloth bags or pillowcases to collect their treats. They are sturdier, can be used year after year, and reduce single-use plastic waste. <https://www.diamondbarca.gov/Areas/CivicSend/Assets/Uploads/4600/eddb37c468f649e7b95aeb803d0f860c_optimized.jpg> Sustainable Ideas for Leftover Halloween Pumpkins After Halloween, do not toss your pumpkins in the trash—there are plenty of eco-friendly ways to repurpose them that benefit your garden, local wildlife, and the environment. Here are some sustainable ideas to give your pumpkins a new life: * Compost Them: Pumpkins are rich in nutrients and break down easily, making them ideal for composting. Cut the pumpkin into smaller pieces to speed up the decomposition process. Add it to your compost pile or bin and let nature do the rest. * Make a Pumpkin Bird Feeder: Cut your pumpkin in half, remove the seeds, and fill each half with birdseed. Hang the pumpkin halves or place them in your yard as bird feeders. It is a fun way to support local wildlife as colder weather sets in. * Feed Your Garden: Pumpkins are excellent for enriching the soil. Cut your pumpkin into small pieces and bury them in your garden or flower beds. Over time, the pumpkin will decompose, adding valuable nutrients to the soil to support next season’s plants. * Roast the Seeds: Do not forget about the seeds! Clean and dry them, then roast them for a healthy snack. Pumpkin seeds are rich in nutrients and make a delicious treat for you or the birds. <https://www.diamondbarca.gov/Areas/CivicSend/Assets/Uploads/4600/b98685bc28834db2bcc09fc563e9685d_optimized.jpg> Better Produce Washing Amid Pesticide Concerns Pesticides are widely present in our food supply, and while washing can reduce exposure, it cannot eliminate the larger problem. The persistence of chemical residues suggests a food system that relies heavily on pesticides, leaving consumers with limited tools to protect themselves, unless they grow their own produce. Both organic and conventional produce may carry residues, but washed produce is still a far healthier choice than skipping fruits and vegetables altogether. A new guide from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) <https://www.ewg.org/> emphasizes that washing fruits and vegetables is one of the most effective steps consumers can take to reduce pesticide residues and ensure food safety. EWG provides recommendations to improve the four standard cleaning methods: * Rinse under running tap water: for at least 20 seconds, gently rubbing the produce. For tougher items, such as potatoes or carrots, a scrub brush works best. * Soaking in tap water: for 10–15 minutes, then lifting the produce out instead of dumping the water, so dirt and chemicals stay behind. * Soaking in a baking soda solution: (a teaspoon per cup of water) for 5–10 minutes, followed by a rinse. * Soaking in a vinegar solution: (1 part vinegar to 3 parts water) for 5–10 minutes, then rinsing well. The guide warns against using soaps, detergents, bleach, or store-bought produce washes, as they may be unsafe and have not been proven effective. Certain produce also needs special care: * Avocados and other foods with peels: should still be rinsed before cutting, to keep surface pesticides and dirt from transferring inside. * Berries and other delicate fruits: benefit from a gentle soak followed by a light rinse and turning to avoid bruising. * Root vegetables: such as carrots or beets, should be scrubbed with a brush under running water. * Leafy greens: clean up best with a soak and rinse, which helps get to hidden spots. Contact Information <https://www.diamondbarca.gov/Areas/CivicSend/Assets/Uploads/4600/b0b10f74edff42818f3bb78a4121e511_small_optimized.jpg> City of Diamond Bar Environmental Services Team 21810 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765 909-839-7000 | greendb@diamondbarca.gov <mailto:greendb@diamondbarca.gov> For information about this newsletter, contact the Environmental Services Team at 909-839-7015 or greendb@diamondbarca.gov <mailto:greendb@diamondbarca.gov> . If this newsletter was shared with you, sign up to receive your own copy at www.diamondbarca.gov/signup <https://www.diamondbarca.gov/list.aspx> and select "EnviroLink Newsletter" Share on Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://cvcpl.us/nn18u5z> Share on Twitter <http://twitter.com/share?url=https://cvcpl.us/nn18u5z> Share via Email <mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20message&body=https://cvcpl.us/nn18u5z> Copyright 2024 City of Diamond Bar. 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