The Los Angeles Costume Swap is doing its part to help reduce the burden on our landfills by organizing a Halloween costume swap.

"The spread of Halloween pollution has already started," the organization stated in a press release. "Go online and Google Halloween costumes and you'll find no less than 10 pages of new articles on where to buy this year's hottest costume. These costumes will rarely make it back into their closets for next year. Instead they will be thrown away with the rest of the tons of Halloween textile and plastics that overload landfills and pollute the environment."

The organization has decided to take up the challenge to stop the Halloween rot by becoming part of the National Costume Swap Day, created by Corey Colwell-Lipson of GreenHalloween.org®.

Los Angeles Costume Swap promises to show "adults, parents, kids and youth community centers how to make healthier and Earth-friendly choices for Halloween without sacrificing any of the fun."

To help do this, the organization has teamed up with the Mar Vista Community Council and the Mar Vista Farmers' Market to host a  GREEN-o-ween event at the Mar Vista Farmers' Market on Oct. 9.

Kids and adults will have the opportunity to swap costumes by recycling their old Halloween gowns, witches hats, masks, clothing accessories and superhero capes.

According to Los Angeles Costume Swap, the exchange will help reduce planet stress by 6,200 tons.

Beyond the costume exchange, Los Angeles Costume Swap advocates other Halloween-centric activities and products that are eco-friendly, including crafting, books, safe toys, and healthy or sugar-free trick-or-treat items in place of candy.

At the Oct. 9 event, the organization will hand out Goodie Bags and free samples, including Larabars, Honest Tea, and Glee Gum. There will also be a slew of activities on offer. 

However, you don't have to wait till October to get in on the green Halloween act. Los Angeles Costume Swap will also be at the market on Sept. 18 to host Heroes Day, where kids and kids at heart can dress up as their favorite hero. Prizes will be awarded for the best dressed, which will be judged on how many cheers each costume receives from the audience. You'll also be able to swap costumes on that day.

For more information, visit the Los Angeles Costume Swap website. 

Los Angeles Costume Swap is an affiliated partner of Green Halloween ®, National Costume Swap Day ™, Swap.com ® and Kiwi Magazine ®.

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