Halloween recycling guide

Updated 14 Oct 2026

After Halloween most homes are left with a carved pumpkin, a costume or two, a pile of sweet wrappers and maybe a toy that lights up. Most of that can stay out of your general waste bin.

Councils don't all take the same things, so each item links to its own page. Choose your council there to see its exact rule.

Pumpkins

If you can, eat it. The flesh makes soup, curry or cake, and the seeds roast well. Hubbub's surveys for its Pumpkin Rescue campaign have found millions of carving pumpkins go uneaten in the UK each year.

Whatever is left (the skin, stringy bits and a carved shell) is food waste. If your council collects food waste, it can usually go in your food caddy. You can also put it in a home compost bin, chopped up so it breaks down faster.

Take out candles, tea lights and any wax first, and don't use a pumpkin that's gone mouldy for food.

Costumes and fancy dress

Many costumes are worn once or twice. Keep yours for next year, or swap it with friends. Some councils and libraries run costume swaps in October, such as Gloucestershire's.

If you donate a costume, keep its fire safety label on: charity shops may not be able to sell costumes without one. Clothes and textiles that can't be reused may still be taken by textile banks or recycling centres, depending on your council.

Masks, wigs, props and face paint can't be recycled at home. Pass them on if they're still usable; otherwise they go in your general waste.

Sweets and treats

Sweet wrappers are soft plastic or foil-lined film. More councils now take soft plastics at the kerbside, and some supermarkets have collection points, but many councils still don't, so check yours.

Tins from sweets and biscuits are usually recyclable with your cans. Cardboard multipack boxes go with your card.

Decorations, candles and balloons

Store decorations for next year where you can. Glass candle jars can often be cleaned and reused; remove the wax first.

Fake cobwebs, glow sticks and balloons can't be recycled, so they go in your general waste. Released balloons end up as litter. A plastic trick or treat bucket will last for years if you keep it.

Light-up toys and batteries

Anything with a plug, battery or cable is an electrical item, even a glowing pumpkin or a light-up wand. It must never go in your general waste or recycling bin, because batteries can start fires in bin lorries and at recycling sites.

Take the batteries out if you can, and take the toy to an electricals collection point or recycling centre. Many shops that sell batteries have a battery box.

Keep button batteries away from children: they are very dangerous if swallowed.

Common questions

Can pumpkins go in the food waste bin?

Usually, yes: if your council collects food waste, pumpkin skin and leftovers can go in your food caddy, with candles and wax taken out. You can also compost them at home. See pumpkins for your council's rule.

Can you recycle Halloween costumes?

Reuse them first: keep them, swap them or donate them with the fire safety label on. Worn-out clothes may be taken by textile banks or recycling centres, depending on your council. See fancy dress costumes.

Do sweet wrappers go in the recycling?

It depends on your council. Some take soft plastics like sweet wrappers at the kerbside, some supermarkets collect them, and others say general waste. See sweet wrappers and choose your council.

What do I do with light-up Halloween toys?

Never put them in a bin. They're electrical items with batteries, which can cause fires. Take them to an electricals collection point or recycling centre. See electronic toys.

Sources

Each item's answer above comes from the national guidance in our data. Your council's own rules can differ: choose your council on any item page, or check its website.