How to Live More Sustainably This Fall

Fall feels like a season built for slowing down; leaves drop, harvests wrap up, and routines shift as the days shorten. It’s also one of the easiest times of year to build new sustainable habits. You don’t need to overhaul your life or spend a fortune on eco-products. Small choices add up, and autumn offers plenty of opportunities to try them out.

Eat What’s Actually in Season

The farmers’ market in October looks nothing like it does in June; and that’s the point. Apples, squash, sweet potatoes, and root vegetables all peak in fall. Buying local produce cuts down on the fossil fuels behind long-haul shipping and usually means your food is fresher. If you roast a butternut squash grown 20 miles away instead of grabbing asparagus flown in from Peru, you’ve already made a climate-friendly swap.

Vegetables s farmersu2019 market by Jakub Kapusnak is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

Rethink Fall Fashion

Fast fashion churns out polyester sweaters and synthetic scarves that shed microplastics with every wash. Fall is a perfect time to resist that cycle. Choose wool, organic cotton, or thrifted finds instead (you can also use my favorite app, depop). A flannel shirt that’s already outlasted one owner will outlast you too. Sustainable clothing isn’t about deprivation; it’s about wearing things long enough to give them a life of their own.

Thrift store, Mission Street, San by libraryofcongress is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

Compost the Yard, Not the Landfill

Leaves don’t belong in plastic bags on the curb. They’re a free soil amendment. Mulch them into your lawn or compost pile, or rake them around tree roots to insulate against winter freezes. The EPA estimates yard waste makes up more than 13 percent of municipal solid waste. Keeping those leaves at home means fewer garbage trucks hauling organic matter to landfills where it just turns into methane, one of the most potent greenhouse gases.

Heat Smarter, Not Harder

Heating eats up more household energy than any other system. Seal up drafty windows with weatherstripping, drop the thermostat a degree or two, and rely on blankets or layered clothing before cranking the furnace. Even small tweaks matter; lowering your thermostat by just 2°F can cut heating bills and emissions by about 6 percent.

Celebrate Without the Waste

Halloween candy wrappers, single-use decorations, and disposable party supplies pile up fast. Opt for reusable décor, natural items like pumpkins or gourds, and bulk candy in recyclable packaging. A string of LED lights around a porch rail lasts for years; plastic pumpkin lanterns usually end up in the trash by November.

Think Beyond Thanksgiving Dinner

The holiday feast is notorious for food waste. Plan portions with leftovers in mind, send guests home with what you can’t finish, and freeze what’s left before it spoils. Donate unopened pantry goods to local food banks. Sustainable living isn’t just about cutting emissions; it’s also about respecting the resources behind every calorie we put on the table.