I know, you just sent the kids back to school and the holiday countdown is upon already. Scary!

According to Statistics Canada, we spent over $196 million in 2004 on Hallowe'en supplies, with all the wrappers and waste than ensues.

Try greening your Hallowe'en this year:

If your house didn't come with metres of fun fur stuffed in the ceiling like ours did (?!) you may want to run to the Calgary Kids Costume Swap this Saturday, September 10 at the South Calgary Community centres. Go to www.calgarykidscostumeswap.com for details.

If you can't attend, consider using paperless social media to organize your own informal event with friends and neighbours whose children may have outgrown their outfits. Second hand stores often have fun finds and kids may enjoy using found items such as carboard boxes and tubes to make their own costumes, and the library has great books available.

Pumpkins are bulky but compost down nicely. Go to Map Downloads at www.calgary.ca for the city's leaf and pumpkin composting drop off locations if you don't do your own backyard composting.

Parties can cut down on wrappers if you offer unpackaged treats such as baked goods, flavoured popcorn, or fruit and chocolate dip (not so good at the door). Remember that the library has great Halloween craft and recipe books.

Use solar lighting whenever possible in your outdoor displays. Tiny plastics bags hanging from the trees are scary, but not in the way intended. Go for re-usable good looking, high quality and least-toxic, or hand-made items that you can enjoy for years.