10 Ways to Recycle Halloween Pumpkins
It's pumpkin everything season. But after it's over and it's time to change the decor, what happens to all the pumpkins?
Most of the 1.3 billion lbs. of pumpkins produced wind up in the landfill. Scary thought, right? It's a total environmental nightmare.
3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Landfill Pumpkins
Landfilled pumpkins & gourds can take 1-2 decades to break down, meanwhile producing a potent greenhouse gas - methane - which goes into our air contributing to global warming.
Pumpkins are also full of water. That water combines with other materials in a landfill, creating leachate, a toxic sludge. That sludge can potentially leak into our waterways, causing lots of damage.
They fill up our landfill faster, which means we’ll have to create a new one. Historically the poor and vulnerable are picked as neighbors for such things.
But you don’t have to be a part of the problem!
10 Ways to Repurpose Your Pumpkins
Bring Them to our Drop-off Sites
If in the Omaha area, we have a free pumpkin drop-off on November 1-12 at Dundee Bank in Dundee (5015 Underwood Ave located behind the bank) and NeighborGood Food Pantry (302 American Pkwy, Papillion located in the field near the garden). Just be sure they have no glitter, candles, or paint.
For the Dundee Bank location, we’ll be sending these pumpkins to Little Mountain Ranch & Garden in Fort Calhoun. They are going to feed your pumpkins to their forest-ranging pigs! Check out their lovely Winter Meat CSA program. Materials collected from the NeighborGood site will be composted at Soil Dynamics, which will wind up in gardens & farms in our area.
If you like this sort of thing, you can sign up for our year-round compost drop-off & soil-back subscription called Compost Club. You’ll get access to 60 drop-off sites, free compost, and discounts on mulch, soil, compost. Info: www.hillside.solutions/compostclub.
*If interested in hosting a pumpkin drop-off site in the future, contact us.
Feed Them to Humans (Like You)
What’s a better use than composting? … Feeding humans!
Less than 20% of pumpkins grown are actually eaten. So let's change that stat! Roast the seeds, make a base broth with the guts, and use the flesh in a delicious curry or pie. Just don't eat the stalk.
Next, Feed Animals!
Chop up your pumpkin and toss it in your backyard. The squirrels (and dear if you’re lucky) will know what to do from there.
Plant Pumpkin Seeds
You'll never need to repurchase seeds again! Save seeds in a cool and dry environment. You can plant them after the first frost has passed. Keep in mind - pumpkins need at least 75 to 100 days to grow.
Feed the Birds
Cut the top of your gourd to form a bowl shape, stick some twigs to the side for perching, use twine to hang, and there you have it - a bird feeder! Be sure it's secure and filled with birdseed. Photo from Get Out with the kids.
Save for Thanksgiving
Good news, ya turkey! Uncarved pumpkins can last up to 12 weeks before rotting. So if they're still whole and firm, hang onto them for Thanksgiving decor.
Make a Pumpkin Vase
Does your pumpkin have some life left? Stuff favorite florals into foam or soil for a conventional autumn display. Prevent it from rotting quicker by keeping it out of the sun. Photo from Alice Stable.com.
Make a Pumpkin Face Mask
Sunken-Pumpkin? If it’s organically grown, mash it up! Pampering yourself with a ghoulish spa day, including a pumpkin facial mask to help fight damaged skin!
Go Pumpkin Bowling
Fill (reusable) plastic bottles with water and set them up in a 10-pin triangle. Then, it's time to strike out another upcycle use with pumpkin bowling. Keep the fall festivities going strong with these ideas here.
Be a Basic Witch & Make PSLs at Home
Skip the drive-thru coffee (and single-use plastic) by making your PSL (pumpkin spice latte) home. Sprinkle cinnamon up top for the sweet-treat here.
Ready to take eco-action?
Check out our year-round compost-drop off & soil-back program called Compost Club. Get access to 60+ drop-off sites around the Greater Omaha Area while getting free compost back every year, plus 20% off all other soil, compost, mulch products from Soil Dynamics.