A post-Halloween sustainability guide

These Davis resources can help keep Halloween costumes out of landfills

By HELENA BIRBROWER — arts@theaggie.org 

From iconic annual celebrations like the Zombie Bike Parade to autumnal favorites like the Impossible Acres pumpkin patch and animal barn, there is no shortage of fun ways to celebrate Halloween in Davis. 

Throughout this festive atmosphere, college students don’t celebrate Halloween solely on Oct. 31. Most celebrate all of “Halloweekend,” dressing up in costumes and attending social events for several days before and after the actual day of Halloween. This means that most students prepare several costumes to wear, not just one — which often leads to waste and environmental harm once the holiday ends. 

According to a poll published by Syracuse University’s The NewsHouse in October 2025, only 16% of students prepare only one costume for Halloween. Furthermore, over 80% of Halloween costumes consist of synthetic, nonbiodegradable materials, according to an article published by Washington University in St. Louis. “7 million costumes went into landfills each Halloween — the weight equivalent of 83 million Coca-Cola bottles,” the article reads.

Thankfully, many resources are available in Davis to avoid Halloween costumes going straight from trick-or-treating to the landfill. With Halloween over and the winter holidays fast approaching, here are some ways to make room in your closet for the next season without hurting the planet in the process.

A good place to start is the Aggie Reuse Store, which is centrally located in the UC Davis Memorial Union. 

“Aggie Reuse has always been a reduce, reuse, recycle kind of thing,” Reyna Padillo, third-year psychology and philosophy double major and store co-director, said. “We’ve always been upcycling and upholding the mission of sustainability.”

The Aggie Reuse Store accepts donations of almost anything. The exceptions to this are socks, undergarments and any food items. 

Another great option, located just a few blocks from campus, is Bohéme Clothing and Gifts. Julia Holton, UC Davis alum and Bohéme community outreach and event coordinator stated that the combination thrift shop and boutique emphasizes affordability. She noted that part of the boutique’s mission is to give items a new life through upcycling and community engagement. 

“We love to accept Halloween costumes,” Holton said. “We accept homemade costumes, any accessories and any clothing except children’s clothing.”

However, the store does not accept anything stained or ripped, unless that is intentionally a part of the costume. Like Aggie Reuse, they do not accept socks or undergarments, but they do accept activewear and lingerie. Bohéme offers an opportunity for “trade-ins,” so if your costume is accepted by the owners, you can trade it in for cash or store credit.

Holton is also hoping to host upcycling workshops at Bohéme in the coming months. She encourages people to look out for social media announcements about the events, and bring their old costumes to give them a “new life.”

Another great resource in Downtown Davis is the Yolo County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). The Yolo County SPCA has a large thrift store that helps to fund their work doing community outreach and finding permanent homes for adoptable pets. 

Zoe Pejsa, UC Davis alum and Yolo County SPCA store manager, shared that they accept donations of all kinds,from clothing to furniture to electronics. 

“Yolo County SPCA is made for the college student soul,” Pejsa said. “We have a lot of fun things, and we’re always offering a student discount.”

The thrifters and upcyclers who work at the Aggie Reuse Store, Bohéme and Yolo County SPCA pointed out some reliable approaches to sustainability when it comes to Halloween costumes. 

“I personally never throw out my costumes,” Navin Federico, a fourth-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major and Aggie Reuse store co-director, said. “That’s the biggest thing. I reuse my costumes.”

If a piece cannot be reworn or becomes damaged, repurposing the fabric itself can also be a good option. 

“Upcycling doesn’t have to be hard,” Holton said. “There’s a lot of tutorials online that can be really easy to follow, and you don’t need a sewing machine for that.”

Padillo recommended cutting up costumes and using fabric as cleaning rags or towels. 

“Then you don’t have to buy new towels on Amazon or go to Target for them,” Padillo said. “You have the Halloween costume.”

Those interested in supporting these sustainable community resources can check out their websites or social media pages (their Instagram accounts are @aggiereusestore, @boheme.threads and @yolocountyspcathriftstore), where all three are always offering volunteer opportunities.

Written by: Helena Birbrower — arts@theaggie.org