Sustainable fashion advocate Lexy Silverstein started the pilot project “Lextober” this past Halloween season to combat costume waste. On Wednesday, the results of the Halloween costume donation drive, which ran in California and Maryland during October 2025, were announced.The bicoastal pilot collected nearly 200 Halloween costumes, diverting an estimated 200 to 400 pounds of textile waste from landfills.The pilot program succeeded through strategic partnerships with environmental nonprofit Heal the Bay in Los Angeles and Clinical Associates in the Baltimore area. Drop-off locations included the Heal the Bay Aquarium at the Santa Monica Pier and their Nothin’ But Sand Cleanup. Collected costumes were then sorted and redistributed to families in the Los Angeles community, providing affordable and eco-friendly Halloween options.“This pilot project has been an incredible success, and it’s all thanks to the heartfelt support from our community,” said Silverstein. “Together, we saved nearly 200 Halloween costumes from landfills—keeping 200 to 400 pounds of textile waste out of the environment. This wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing partnerships with Heal the Bay in Los Angeles and Clinical Associates in Maryland. These organizations played a critical role in making sure these costumes found a second life, offering a tangible solution to the growing issue of textile waste. We’re seeing the real power of people coming together to address environmental challenges, and I’m so grateful for the overwhelming response. Let’s take this to the national level next year and make Lextober a movement that keeps millions of pounds of waste out of landfills while creating more affordable, sustainable Halloween options for families across the country.”The Lextober campaign tackled a significant but often overlooked environmental problem: each year, nearly 35 million Halloween costumes are discarded in the United States, with 85% of textiles ending up in landfills or incinerators. Most costumes are made from synthetic materials that don’t biodegrade. With the average costume now costing $114 per person, the donation model addresses both waste and financial barriers to enjoying the holiday.“Fast fashion has crept into Halloween, with consumers buying cheap, synthetic costumes that haunt landfills for decades,” Silverstein explained during the campaign. “Single-use costumes are a ‘grave’ mistake for our environment. By donating instead of tossing, we can keep these materials in circulation and out of our oceans and landfills.”Building on the pilot program’s success, Silverstein is now seeking major corporate sponsors to expand Lextober into a national initiative for Halloween 2026. The proven model—combining environmental impact with accessible community distribution—positions the program for significant scale.“The response we received shows there’s real hunger for sustainable Halloween solutions,” Silverstein noted. “With the right partners, we can make Lextober a nationwide movement that keeps millions of pounds of costume waste out of landfills while making Halloween more accessible and affordable for families across America.”