As the leaves change color and fall to the ground, and our pumpkins go from festive to squishy, many New Yorkers wonder what to do with the remnants of our autumn and Halloween. While it is never legal to burn leaves in New York state, you can still keep your autumn activities and fall yard cleanup sustainable and healthy. Make your choices ghoulishly green this year by following these autumn tips:
Compost: Organic material releases methane gas as it decomposes in landfills under piles of trash. Compost your pumpkins, leaves, and food scraps to limit these landfill emissions.
Decorate: Get creative with the leaves in your yard by creating autumn-themed decorations like scarecrows, or use fallen pine cones for a festive table centerpiece.
Reuse: Extend the useful life of items by creating a costume from clothes and items you already own, or shop for new-to-you items at a thrift store or yard sale.
Drive Less: Walking door-to-door or carpooling with friends when trick-or-treating to lower emissions.
Green up your autumn this year by following these spook-tacular ideas. Before heading out to parties or trick-or-treating this year, check the daily Air Quality Index. While autumn may be full of orange and red, keeping our actions green will keep our air healthy for everyone to enjoy.
