Eco Fest in Fort Wayne, Indiana, kicks off a candy wrapper recycling program today to cut down on Halloween waste. The effort aims to make the spooky season more eco friendly by collecting hard to recycle packaging from all that trick or treat loot.

Program Overview

Eco Fest, a local nonprofit focused on sustainability, runs this initiative each year around Halloween. They partner with community spots to gather wrappers that usually end up in landfills. This years drive started on October 30, 2025, and runs through November 30, giving families plenty of time to join in after the big night.

The program fits into Ecos broader mission to promote green living in Fort Wayne. Organizers say it helps educate people on simple ways to reduce trash during holidays. Last year, similar efforts diverted thousands of wrappers from waste streams, and they hope to top that this time.

Drop Off Locations and Schedule

Residents can drop off their clean candy wrappers at several convenient spots in Fort Wayne. The schedule lines up with popular events to make it easy for everyone to participate. Here is a quick look at the key dates and places.

These sites cover different parts of the city, so most folks can find one nearby. Eco Fest encourages groups and schools to get involved as a team activity.

What Materials Are Accepted

Not all wrappers qualify for this program, but many common types do. Focus on clean items to ensure they get processed right. Here are the main ones they take.

• Foil lined wrappers from chocolate bars
• Blister packs for gummy candies
• Flexible plastic packaging from snack bags

Avoid paper only wrappers or anything with food bits stuck on. If in doubt, rinse it off and check the material. This keeps the recycling smooth and effective. Programs like this often team up with national recyclers to turn the collected items into new products, like park benches or bags.

Environmental Benefits of Recycling Candy Wrappers

Halloween brings joy but also a pile of waste, with Americans buying over 600 million pounds of candy each year. Most wrappers mix plastic and metal, making them tough for standard bins to handle. They linger in landfills for hundreds of years, harming soil and wildlife.

By recycling through Eco Fest, Fort Wayne residents help shrink that footprint. One ton of recycled plastic saves enough energy to power a home for months. This program alone could divert hundreds of pounds locally, tying into bigger goals like reducing city wide trash by 20 percent in the coming years.

Experts note that small actions add up. For instance, similar drives in other cities have cut holiday waste by 15 percent. In Fort Wayne, it builds on recent pushes like the citys zero waste workshops, showing how communities lead on climate issues.

Community Impact and Tips for Green Halloween

Locals praise the program for making sustainability fun and accessible. Families report it sparks talks about the environment at home, especially with kids. One recent event at a local park drew over 200 participants, blending recycling with games and treats.

To go further, try these practical steps for a greener holiday.

• Buy candy in bulk to cut extra packaging
• Opt for brands with recyclable or compostable wrappers
• Reuse decor from past years or make your own from recycled items
• Compost pumpkin scraps at events like the Compost Festival

These habits not only help the planet but save money too. Fort Wayne sees growing interest in eco initiatives, with attendance at green events up 25 percent since 2023.

Join the effort by visiting a drop off site and sharing your green Halloween stories. Comment below with your tips or experiences, and spread the word to friends for a cleaner community.