By: Samantha Rypstra WMEAC Lakeshore Fellow
Autumn has arrived here in West Michigan, marked by cooler temperatures and colorful trees. The season serves as a reminder of how beautiful change can be and we here at West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) want to encourage you to celebrate fall by embracing some easy changes to reduce your environmental impact.
Don’t throw out your pumpkin!
Many people decorate their homes with fall pumpkins, but when the time comes to take the decor down, when placed in garbage bags and sent to the landfill, pumpkins begin to break down, releasing methane gas which contributes to climate change. Try one of these alternatives to sending them to the landfill:
- Bring your pumpkins to a local farm where they can be used to feed farm animals such as pigs which love pumpkins as a special autumn treat.
- If you live near a wooded area, you could also leave the pumpkins out for deer and other wildlife to enjoy.
- Compost your pumpkin to nourish your garden or plant the seeds to grow next year’s pumpkins.
- If carving jack o’lanterns, save and roast the seeds you remove for a snack!
“Leave the leaves!”
There are many reasons to “leave the leaves” that fall in your yard this autumn season. During this busy season packing up your leaves and doing fall yard work can be one less thing on your to-do list. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Yard wastes account for
a fifth (over thirty-one million tons) of all garbage generated in the U.S. each year.” When yard wastes decompose in landfills without proper oxygen, they release harmful methane gas, but leaving them alone can hold many benefits. Fallen leaves provide a habitat for butterflies and other pollinators during the winter months. You can also use the fallen leaves to cover your garden throughout the winter months- a thick layer of leaves not only protects pollinators but can create warmth and protection for plants. Leaves left covering your garden will break down into a mulch that helps to nourish the soil.
Enjoy the changing scenery from a local hiking trail.
With all the time you save by not removing leaves from your lawn you can get out and enjoy the fall weather and scenery! Ottawa County is known for its extensive trails. What better way to enjoy the changing leaves than by hiking along a local trail?
Utilize a local farm or farmers market.
Michigan is home to many local farms and orchards and many local farmers markets continue into the autumn season. Reduce your carbon footprint and support the local economy by purchasing your produce or fall decor from a local farm or market.
Thrift your Halloween costume or fall wardrobe.
According to the National Retail Federation, total spending for Halloween in 2023 is expected to reach $12.2 billion, with 50% of consumers planning to dress in Halloween costumes. Many costumes are made with non-recyclable plastic, and likely thrown away each year. The good news is, that you can still join in on the Halloween costume fun:
- Borrow or trade used costumes with friends.
- Purchase a costume secondhand.
- DIY/ make your costume with thrifted materials.
- Repurpose or recycle your old costumes if possible.
Upcycle or DIY your fall decorations.
In today’s age of TikTok trends and social media, we can easily be influenced into purchasing brand new decorations for every season or holiday, but this overconsumption wastes resources. Reusing last year’s decorations, crafting fall decorations from things that would otherwise be thrown out, or buying decorations secondhand or from local craft vendors are all more sustainable alternatives to purchasing new decorations for each changing season or holiday.
Drink from a reusable cup!
Cool fall mornings in West Michigan leave many of us opting for a hot coffee, cider, or pumpkin spice latte. Make this habit a more sustainable one by supporting a local business and purchasing your drink from a local cafe and make or purchase your drink in a reusable cup or mug over a single-use disposable one. This simple swap is an easy way to make this autumn habit more eco-friendly.
We are hopeful you are able to do as many fun-filled fall activities as possible this season and encourage you to incorporate these small changes along your way!
