Skeletons made from plastic bottles and papier mache masks from old newspapers are just two ways keen recyclers could be going ghoulish green this Halloween.

Recycle for Wiltshire has come up with a host of ways to cut back on the waste and still have fun.

  • Dressing up in ghoulish gear is all part of it so make sure your recycling habits pay off by re-using old clothes and sheets to make the costumes or swapping last year’s costume with a friend.
  • You can use your old newspapers to make papier mache masks, bats and spiders.
  • Alternatively make your own loot bag by decorating an old pillowcase or bucket. And why not try stringing together plastic milk bottles to make up your own spooky skeleton?
  • Pumpkins are ripe for recycling – you can roast your pumpkin seeds, turn the pumpkin flesh into pies and soups and pop the rest in the composter when you have finished with it.
  • Don’t forget to use rechargeable batteries in your torch and to cut down on the rubbish of sweet papers, why not make your treats last longer by giving out pencils and pens – you can even buy those made from recycled material.

Catherine Dixon, Wiltshire County Council’s waste projects officer, suggests swapping some of the Halloween activities that create rubbish for more traditional fun like bobbing for apples.

“They are better for you and you can compost the cores. We need to think about recycling whatever time of the year.

"With a little bit of planning you can be green and have fun too."

The day after Halloween, November 1, there is more recycling news.