HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnviroLink - October 20251
Tara Reyes
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Subject:City of Diamond Bar EnviroLink- October 2025
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October 2025
2
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
o 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.
o Fresh Fruit: Apples, clementines, or bananas make excellent alternatives to
traditional Halloween candy. These treats are nutritious, plastic-free, and
compostable.
o 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
3
o 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.
o 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.
o 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.
Sustainable Ideas for Leftover Halloween
Pumpkins
4
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:
o 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.
o 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.
o 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.
o 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.
5
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) 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:
o 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.
o Soaking in tap water: for 10–15 minutes, then lifting the produce out instead
of dumping the water, so dirt and chemicals stay behind.
o Soaking in a baking soda solution: (a teaspoon per cup of water) for 5–10
minutes, followed by a rinse.
o 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:
o Avocados and other foods with peels: should still be rinsed before cutting,
to keep surface pesticides and dirt from transferring inside.
o Berries and other delicate fruits: benefit from a gentle soak followed by a
light rinse and turning to avoid bruising.
o Root vegetables: such as carrots or beets, should be scrubbed with a brush
under running water.
o Leafy greens: clean up best with a soak and rinse, which helps get to hidden
spots.
Contact Information
6
City of Diamond Bar
Environmental Services Team
21810 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765
909-839-7000 | greendb@diamondbarca.gov
For information about this newsletter, contact the
Environmental Services Team at 909-839-7015
or greendb@diamondbarca.gov.
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21810 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765
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