Ten Eek-o-Friendly Handout Ideas for Trick-or-Treaters

Get ready to spook your neighborhood in the most sustainable way possible! This year, you can distribute items that are exciting for kids and gentle on the planet. From sweet surprises to clever alternatives, you’ll spread smiles without the waste—read on to see how.

1. Box it up

Cardboard is recyclable, often made from renewable resources, and has a lower environmental impact compared to plastic. It’s easy to find classics like Dots, Nerds, and Junior Mints packaged this way, and if you’re lucky, you might even manage to get your hands on M&Ms, Milk Duds, or Whoppers. Nobody can complain about these options!

2. Don’t forget the foil

Some candies are wrapped in recyclable foil, like those kooky little chocolate eyeballs available this time of year. The foil is completely recyclable; simply rinse off any residue, allow it to dry, and crumple it up before tossing it in your bin.

3. Look for paper wrappers

Bits-O-Honey toffee might not be for everyone, but they’re another excellent zero-waste option, as the wrappers are completely recyclable. Bubble gum and certain mini-chocolate bars might also come packaged this way, and you can definitely trust Pixy Sticks…just be ready for extremely bouncy children.

4. See what you can compost

Hopefully more companies will start providing these types of products, but we know of one at the moment, Alter Eco, that makes fair trade chocolates with compostable wrappers. You can find them online in packs of 20, 40, 60, or 80 in several different flavors. They even arrive in a cardboard box.

5. Buy it in bulk

If you have time to get crafty in your presentation, go for bulk candy. Grocers like Sprouts offer a ton of great choices, and you might know of local stores in your neighborhood with similar options. Get a mix of candies like chocolate, jelly beans, or gummies and place them in miniature bags made of paper or muslin. (This is also a great option if you’re hosting guests: just throw them into a bowl for everyone to enjoy!)

6. Get cute with fruit

We love the idea of using a black marker to draw jack-o-lantern faces on clementine oranges. What could be cuter? Just place them in a bowl in your entryway and you’re all set to go.

7. Bring on the beverages

Aluminum can be recycled indefinitely, so why not hand out soda or another type of canned beverage? You could spring for La Croix or lemonade, or even sparkling juice. Brownie points if you purchase them in a cardboard box instead of in plastic rings.

8. Tattoos, anyone?

Nobody wants to be the house handing out pennies, toothbrushes, or anything else you hated from your own childhood, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do something other than candy. Kids love any opportunity for temporary ink, and you can find amazing 300-piece packages online. Witch hats, black cats, pumpkins, little ghosts…the options are endless!

9. Win them over with stickers

If tattoos aren’t your thing, try giving out stickers instead. We found numerous options online made from 100% recyclable paper, and again, you’ll have your pick of designs. Who doesn’t love a fun memento to look at later?

10. Throw in some erasers

Do you remember those wonderfully soft, squeezable erasers from your youth? Make them popular with a new generation by adding some to your goodie bowl. Kids will love bringing a bat, spider, or Frankenstein to school the next day, and they typically come in one large package instead of being individually wrapped.