Don’t Trash That Treat: What to Do with Your Leftover Pumpkins After Halloween

With Halloween over after this week, millions of carved jack-o’-lanterns and decorative gourds are destined for the landfill. Rather than heading straight to the dump or simply throwing in your trash can, you may want to consider opting for sustainable methods to dispose of or even reuse your leftover pumpkins. Keeping pumpkins out of landfills is an easy way to reduce methane emissions and enrich your own yard.

Give Your Garden a Nutrient Boost

For homeowners who garden or compost, pumpkins are a valuable resource. Pumpkins are over 90% water and full of nitrogen, making them excellent organic matter.

• Composting: The easiest and most beneficial solution is composting. Chop the pumpkin into smaller pieces (the smaller the pieces, the faster they decompose) and add them to your compost pile. Be sure to remove any synthetic materials like candle wax or glitter before adding them to the heap.
• Direct Soil Amendment (Burial): If you don’t have a compost bin, you can bury small pumpkin pieces directly into garden beds or under perennial plants. As they decompose over the winter, they will release nutrients back into the soil, creating richer dirt for spring planting.

Wildlife Options

For those unable to compost, there’s another eco-friendly way to dispose of your gourds:

• Animal Feed: Many local farms, animal sanctuaries, and even some zoos accept pumpkins as feed for livestock like pigs, cows, and goats. Always contact the farm or organization first to confirm they are accepting donations and to understand their specific requirements (e.g., must be unpainted and free of wax).

Crucial Safety Note: Never leave pumpkins out for wildlife in parks or wooded areas. While deer and squirrels might eat them, uneaten pumpkins can attract pests and spoil quickly, becoming harmful to wildlife. Keep disposal contained to your own property or designated drop-off sites.

By taking a few minutes to sustainably dispose of your pumpkins, you can help reduce landfill waste and give your garden a healthy head start for the next growing season.