Eco-friendly holidays

Waste Management of Ventura County has some Halloween tricks to make the holiday environmentally friendly.

"We encourage the community to be eco-friendly at every occasion and holiday," said Mike Smith, the company's market area general manager. "We ask parents and children to recycle materials to save money and create less waste."

Waste Management offers these tips:

•Reuse and recycle old costumes. Inexpensive costumes are available at thrift stores and garage sales. Parents can tailor old clothes into costumes for their children.

•Pumpkin seeds, pulp and shell can be composted. Pumpkin seeds can be roasted for snacking, and the meat of the pumpkin can be used to make a pie or muffins.

•Walk around the neighborhood to trick-or-treat rather than driving. Collect candy in reusable bags. Use rechargeable batteries for flashlights. Hand out eco-friendly candy such as organic chocolate or organic lollipops.