How to recycle your Halloween costumes
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Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
It doesn't take being a mummy or a vampire to give a second life to your kid's Halloween costume. Instead, you can donate it to the Free Little Costume Shoppe.
Why it matters: Around 80% of Halloween costumes end up in landfills, the AP reports, but donating means families can use them for free again and again.
The big picture: Allie Able launched the Free Little Costume Shoppe two years ago when she realized her now 10-year-old son had, yet again, outgrown his costumes.
- Instead of sending them to Goodwill, she gathered a few dozen costumes and passed them out for free in Algiers Point.
- It was a hit, and the next year, Able collected — and gave away — about 280 costumes.
How it works: Able gathers costumes throughout the year, primarily through porch pick-ups, as well as from hampers she stashes at a few local businesses.
- She cleans them and makes minor repairs before hosting giveaways in the weeks leading up to Halloween.
- For the 2026 season, she rehomed more than 300 costumes.
What she's saying: "I'm always just trying to find my place in community support," Able says. "It's really important to me, because you really gotta look for the joy in the world now."
- "We just want to bring smiles to faces. The kids coming and picking out their costumes is literally worth it," she says. "It's just the best part."
Zoom in: Follow the Free Little Costume Shoppe on Instagram, where Able shares details on pickups and giveaways.
- If you have costumes to donate now, send her a DM.