Enjoy a safe, fun, and Earth-friendly Halloween

The spooky season may be upon us, but there doesn't have to be anything scary about keeping Halloween sustainable!

With the City's official Halloween trick-or-treat hours set for 5:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31, 2026, below are some tips and tricks to greening your Halloween this year.

Durable and reusable Halloween decorations

Choose quality, durable decorations that you can use year after year. This saves money and reduces waste over time. If you prefer disposable decorations, check recycling guidelines to confirm what can or cannot be recycled at www.icgov.org/recycle.

Eco-friendly costumes

Get creative with items you already have around the house to create a costume, or shop for a costume secondhand! Check out our great selection of local secondhand and consignment stores for costumes.

Collect your candy and treats using a reusable or durable option

Use a reusable cloth bag, pillowcase, or wicker basket (among many other options) to carry your candy around while trick-or-treating.

Give sustainable treats

Consider candy options with less packaging. Alternatively, you can offer a treat other than candy!

Sometimes, individually-wrapped candy is the easiest and safest option. Most wrappers are not recyclable, so be sure to place these in the trash once the candy is eaten.

Post-holiday, use or compost your pumpkins

Instead of tossing your pumpkin, consider one of these great recipes to use the seeds, flesh, and/or rind!

Iowa City curbside customers can compost pumpkins or gourds at the curb. Remove any candles or lights from inside your pumpkin and place it in your yellow-top composting cart or in a paper yard waste bag ($2 sticker required per bag) and then set it at the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day. Learn more: www.icgov.org/curbside.

Residents can also take pumpkins to the Iowa City Landfill's Compost Facility, 3900 Hebl Ave. SW., to be composted ($5 minimum fee covers loads weighing up to 400 pounds). Learn more at www.icgov.org/landfill.

Battery safety

Do you have Halloween decorations, greeting cards, or costumes powered by batteries? Once the spooky celebrations end, Johnson County residents can safely recycle batteries at any of the 14 battery drop-off locations. Improper disposal of batteries in the regular garbage is a leading cause of landfill fires. Prevent landfill fires by recycling batteries at these locations: www.icgov.org/battery

City Halloween events

Don't forget, our Parks and Recreation Department is hosting several free Halloween events, including the Halloween Carnival from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at Robert A. Lee Recreation Center for kids of all ages. Or check out the Tot Monster Mash from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Mercer Park and Aquatics Center, for kids ages 1-6.

Learn more about Parks and Rec events in their fall activity guide.

Questions? Call our Recycling Coordinator at 319-887-6110 or email at [email protected]. Sign up to receive curbside service notices at www.icgov.org/subscribe.