Waste Reduction Week

Waste Reduction Week celebrates its 20th year this month from October 18th until 24th! This program focuses on circular economy, resource efficiency, and waste reduction.

For the Goodwill team, it's a no-brainer to celebrate and learn. We're in the business of helping people through our mission services while caring for our planet by reducing our environmental footprint. We strive to be a model of how we can integrate sustainability practices and a culture of shared responsibility into every aspect of operations and services.

During Waste Reduction Week, we encourage our supporters to join us in this continuous journey of growth. Did you know that every time you shop or donate to your local Goodwill, you're making a huge impact? Not just for the plant, but for the lives of Albertans with disabilities. 89 cents of every dollar spent in a Goodwill store in Alberta goes directly back into our volunteer, job skill training, and work placement programs for those facing barriers. Now that's what we call a treat!

How Can I Celebrate?

Integrate thrifting into your spooky plans this year and join us in a #SustainableHalloween. At every Goodwill location across Alberta, we have sustainable Halloween displays filled with tons of items that can be repurposed for your parties, decorating, costumes, trick-or-treating, and more for you to choose from and create. For the entire #WasteReductionWeek Goodwill will post daily tips, tricks, and information on living a less wasteful life so go on, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!

Costume Ideas

Take a look at some of these easy to create costumes! Who says you need to buy one-off pieces that you may never use again? Get the best bang for your buck at Goodwill and costume smarter, not harder with clothing you can wear again and again.

Ready to Halloween DIY, Read More Here: #GoodwillHalloween

Here are two costumes our team members put together using all thrift items (minus the mustache). Not only are these extremely timely and pop-centric costumes, but they're completely reworkable to their everyday lives. From a business casual look on a fall day to a glammed 'who run the world' holiday party look, they're both going to get a lot of return on these!

Halloween Decor

Goodwill has lots of Halloween decorations. You can find tons of spooky, cutesy, haunted, and playful decor options to help electrify your hallows eve dinner, party, or trick or treating setup at a fraction of the cost of pop-up Halloween stores. (psst, you pay no GST at our stores)

Pop into your local Goodwill with your family for a fun outing. You can all find random pieces to enhance your space and have everyone feel included. Your imagination is the limit, there are pieces like bowls and buckets for handing out candy or collecting, reusable plastic cups, bins to compost rotten leftovers, and lights for indoor and outdoor displays. Plus you'll save money, which means MORE candy and you'll be helping your environment. It's estimated that less than 11% of plastics are recycled in Canada, that's madness, but when you repurpose someone's old treasures, you help increase that number.

Before you rush to box stores for fast fashion or decor, especially when it comes to Halloween and your everyday lifestyle, think about the end impact of your purchase. To learn more about #WasteReductionWeek and ways that you can contribute to making our world a greener space, check out the Recycling Council of Alberta & the official Waste Reduction Week page.