Want to prevent pumpkins from ending up in landfills?
Great job deciding to tackle pumpkin waste! Instead of throwing your jack-o’-lanterns away, let’s discover simple, eco-friendly options for these festive gourds.
Discover the best methods to reuse or recycle your Halloween pumpkins in 2025.
Carved pumpkins, with their spooky smiles lit by candles, bring us joy for one night. But what happens after Halloween?
Instead of being a tasty snack or valuable compost, many fruits and vegetables end up in landfills, a truly unfortunate end.
Every november, Americans discard over 1 billion pounds of pumpkins. These pumpkins end up in landfills, unused and uneaten. They never fulfill their potential as a food source.
In the US, pumpkin waste reaches a staggering one billion pounds, contributing to a growing national issue.
Currently, we waste over 119 billion pounds of food annually. The holiday season only exacerbates this issue, adding to the already alarming amount of waste.
Consider this: Each year,we waste a staggering 119 billion pounds of food. That’s enough to create 130 billion meals, with a value exceeding $408 billion.
Food waste rotting in landfills generates methane, a greenhouse gas substantially more powerful than carbon dioxide.
Food scraps should decompose naturally, enriching the soil and fostering new plant growth. landfilling food waste disrupts this natural cycle. Let’s prevent this, okay?
Wondering how to avoid pumpkin waste this Halloween? Here are top tips to keep your Halloween pumpkins from ending up in landfills!
What is the environmental impact of Halloween pumpkins?
Firstly, the vast number of pumpkins cultivated for Halloween is staggering. Frequently enough, enduring farming methods are overlooked. Shockingly, the US alone grows an estimated 1.91 billion pounds of pumpkins annually!
This large-scale farming uses a lot of water, fertilizers, and pesticides. This overuse damages the soil and hurts nearby natural environments.
Furthermore, moving pumpkins from farms, through stores, and finally to our homes requires a lot of energy and releases carbon into the atmosphere.
After buying and carving pumpkins, they often become trash. They’re then hauled to landfills, worsening their environmental footprint.
It’s not just waste we’re talking about. Discarded Halloween pumpkins have a scary environmental side effect: they generate methane gas.
Once-cheerful jack-o’-lanterns decompose in landfills, mixed with other organic waste. Buried deep and lacking oxygen, pumpkins and similar materials break down anaerobically.This process releases methane, a greenhouse gas much more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, thus speeding up climate change.
This unseen danger is incredibly powerful. Over two decades, it traps heat up to 84 times more effectively than carbon dioxide.
Fortunately,you can easily reuse or recycle your Halloween pumpkins in 2025.
Do pumpkins break down in landfills?
pumpkins and similar organic waste do decompose in landfills. Though, this breakdown differs significantly from composting. Landfill conditions are far from ideal for natural decomposition.
Landfills often bury organic waste beneath non-organic materials. This creates an oxygen-deprived (anaerobic) environment.Consequently, decomposition happens much slower.
This anaerobic decomposition generates methane.Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas. It traps atmospheric heat much more efficiently than carbon dioxide.
Pumpkins do decompose in landfills, but it’s a slow process. This decomposition releases methane, a gas that’s bad for the environment.
Curious about tackling pumpkin waste? Let’s explore solutions!
How long does it take for a pumpkin to decompose?
Pumpkin decomposition time varies. Several factors influence it, such as environmental conditions, pumpkin size, and the presence of microbes.
Pumpkins break down quickly in a well-managed compost pile.Expect full decomposition in just a few weeks to a couple of months. Composting provides ideal conditions, with plenty of oxygen and microbes, to accelerate the natural decay of organic matter.
Conversely,a pumpkin in a landfill decomposes very slowly. This is because landfills lack oxygen (anaerobic environment) and waste is tightly packed.
Given these factors, a pumpkin can take months or even years to wholly decompose. Therefore, it’s crucial to explore methods for preventing Halloween pumpkins from ending up in landfills this year.
How many pumpkins are wasted during Halloween?
each year, approximately 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins are discarded in US landfills.
Every year in the UK, an astounding 18,000 tonnes of pumpkins are discarded. These pumpkins are then sent to landfills. As they decompose, they release methane, a harmful greenhouse gas.
Halloween’s global popularity means millions carve pumpkins and enjoy festive events. This widespread festivity generates important waste, which we should consider.
11 Best Ways To Keep Halloween Pumpkins Out Of Landfills
1. Compost The Halloween Pumpkins
yes, composting your pumpkin can be surprisingly simple.If your pumpkin is damaged, unsightly, and ready to be discarded, consider composting it instead of throwing it away.Composting is a great option!
If you’re already composting, you’re probably doing this already.
Don’t have a compost setup? No problem! Many companies offer compost pickup services.
Discover pumpkin disposal options in your neighborhood. Search online using “your city/town + Halloween pumpkin pickup” or “compost” to find nearby locations!
To reduce landfill waste, numerous cities and towns offer Halloween pumpkin collection programs.
In Illinois, the non-profit organization Scarce, which focuses on recycling and composting, organizes a pumpkin collection event the day after Halloween.
They offer convenient drop-off locations throughout Illinois and are making a real difference!
2. Smash The Halloween Pumpkins
Want to try something fun? Consider a pumpkin smash! It’s never too late to join the excitement.
Pumpkin smashing is a blast! It’s also an excellent method to return pumpkins to the soil, completing their natural cycle.
Customize this experience to your liking, from grand to minimal.Unleash your smashing desires!
Certain cities enjoy launching pumpkins using giant slingshots – a truly entertaining spectacle. Others prefer employing massive sledgehammers. The choice is entirely yours.
The goal is simple: gather everyone’s old pumpkins in a central location. We’ll smash them and then add the remains to a compost pile or truck.This prevents them from ending up in landfills.
We’ve composted hundreds of tons of pumpkins using this method! It’s a blast!
3. The Perfect Animal Feed
pumpkins are a favorite treat for numerous animals.Farmers worldwide frequently enough welcome donations of leftover pumpkins to use as animal feed.
Zoos frequently enough seek used pumpkins.Contact local farms or zoos to see if they want yours!
When surrounded by nature, consider leaving pumpkins outdoors for deer to enjoy. Place them a safe distance from your house to prevent any concerns. Deer find them flavorful!
Consider this fun idea: transform your used pumpkin into tasty snacks for animals!
Top Pumpkin Recipes for Your Beloved Animals:
4. Roast Some Pumpkin Seeds
Effortlessly easy and utterly delightful.
Remove the seeds from the pumpkin’s interior. Spread them in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
Add a dash of sea salt. Roast at 150°C (300°F) for 45 minutes. Stir now and then.
Enhance the taste further by incorporating some plant-based butter!
Top Roasted Pumpkin Recipes:
5. Create A Pumpkin Planter
Your Halloween pumpkins are likely carved and looking spooky right now.
What should you do with this broken item? Is it truly beyond repair? Don’t give up just yet!
Transform your spooky jack-o’-lantern into a planter! It’s surprisingly effective and a brilliant way to grow plants inside a carved pumpkin.
Use it as a gorgeous indoor planter. Wait until the pumpkin naturally decomposes.
When it starts to decompose, just bury it in your yard!
As the pumpkin decomposes, it enriches the soil, serving as an organic fertilizer. this natural process will help your plant thrive and flourish beautifully.
6. Make Some Delicious Pumpkin Puree
Love canned pumpkin? Prepare to be amazed by the superior taste of homemade pumpkin puree!
The flavor is significantly superior. Frankly, I exclusively use pumpkin puree that I’ve made myself.
Pumpkins are plentiful here, and baking them is simple. I prefer to chop them, bake at 400°F (200°C) until tender, and then remove the skin.
I prepare the fruit pulp either manually or using a food processor. Then, I keep it chilled in the fridge.I use it later for pies, smoothies, soups, or even pancakes!
don’t forget, you can also freeze your homemade puree. Properly sealed, it will last for months. I believe you can never have too much puree! Ditch the canned stuff and create your own.
Top Pumpkin Puree Recipes:
7. Pumpkin Smoothie
Pumpkin carving season? Our family instantly thinks of smoothies, not just jack-o’-lanterns!
We absolutely adore pumpkin smoothies; they’re incredibly tasty!
After baking and making your own pumpkin puree, blend it into your morning smoothie.
Add a dash of cinnamon and a hint of vanilla extract. This will transform it into a delicious pumpkin pie-flavored delight!
Top Pumpkin Smoothie Recipes:
8. Homemade pumpkin Butter
Let’s make homemade pumpkin butter! It’s similar to almond butter, not dairy butter.Enjoy this delicious treat for breakfast, snacks, or even dessert!
This butter is delicious on toast. It also complements roasted sweet potatoes perfectly. Try it on pancakes for a delightful treat! Enjoy!
Pumpkin Butter: A delightful spread!
Combine all ingredients in a stockpot.Use medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently.
Keep stirring frequently until the mixture darkens and caramelizes slightly. Ensure continuous stirring to prevent burning.
When the mixture thickens, take it off the heat. Store it in a sealed container in the fridge. It will stay fresh for up to 10 days.
9. Homemade Vegetable Broth
My kids adore the pumpkin’s insides most of all. Actually, I think I might too!
I fondly recall the joy of scooping out pumpkin seeds and stringy pulp. The sounds of “EWWW” and “GROSS” filled our chicago home as we did. Such cherished memories!
Follow these steps: First, separate the pumpkin’s stringy flesh from the seeds. Let your children help – it’s a fun activity for them! Next,put the flesh into a stockpot. Add any vegetable scraps you’ve collected during the week.
still short on scraps? No problem! Simply add them to a freezer bag. keep adding scraps until the bag is full. Once it’s full, you’re ready to make your stock.
Crafting Your Own Vegetable Broth:
Place all your vegetable scraps and trimmings into a large stock pot. Cover them with water, ensuring the water level is about 2 inches above the scraps.
Bring the mixture to a rolling boil. Then, reduce the heat and let it simmer gently for 30 minutes to 2 hours. I prefer a longer simmer, or I use my Instant Pot for a quicker method.
Expect the water to deepen in color. Once it does, remove the vegetables to enjoy your freshly made homemade stock.
10. Pumpkin Candy
You only need the pumpkin skin and flesh. Chop the hollowed pumpkin into chunks. Place them in a saucepan and cover with water.
Cover the pot and bring the mixture to a rolling boil. When the pumpkin is tender, add 1 cup of brown sugar and 1 tsp of pumpkin spice. Simmer for a few minutes more, until a thick syrup develops.
Cover the pumpkin and let it sit overnight. This allows the pumpkin to fully absorb the sugary syrup, transforming it into candy.
Let the pumpkin chunks dry on a wire rack the following day.
Top Pumpkin Candy Recipes:
11.Donate Those Halloween Pumpkins
Pumpkins are edible and nutritious. Many people worldwide, even in your community, lack access to sufficient food.
Give your leftover pumpkins to local shelters or donation initiatives. They can help provide food for those in need.
CompostCab, based in Washington D.C., achieved an astonishing feat. they donated over 3,000 pounds of pumpkins to people facing hardship. What a fantastic contribution!
This was your full guide on ways to keep Halloween pumpkins out of landfills!
Look! There are numerous ingenious methods to prevent Halloween pumpkins from ending up in landfills.
No matter what, avoid throwing pumpkins into trash bags or landfills. Discover creative alternatives to repurpose your Halloween pumpkins!
Good news! Recycling your Halloween pumpkins at home is simple and convenient.
