Did you know the UK produces 18,000 tonnes of Halloween pumpkin waste yearly? The UK produces a scary amount of food waste each year, and all these pumpkins end up in landfills, which is even scarier!
At REMONDIS as a waste management company, we are committed to recycling and environmentally conscious waste disposal. Of course, pumpkins are a big part of Halloween celebrations. But, when the spooky season ends and all the sweets are eaten, what do you do with your carved pumpkins?
Instead of choosing to toss them into the rubbish, adding to landfill pressure, why not read below for some of our eco-friendly ways of disposing of or repurposing your pumpkins? Let’s try to contribute to a more sustainable environment this Halloween!
What To Do With Carved Pumpkins After Halloween
Compost Your Pumpkins
Pumpkins are 100% compostable. An at-home compost bin or heap is the best destination for old pumpkins. Remove any candles, wax or paint beforehand, and the pumpkins will break down quickly, adding valuable nutrients to the compost, such as nitrogen which is a huge benefit to garden soil.
A pumpkin is 90% water, so will help keep your compost moist and break down organic materials quickly.
Feed The Wildlife
Another excellent way to ensure your pumpkin doesn’t go to waste is by using it to feed your local wildlife. Squirrels, birds, and other animals will love snacking on pumpkin flesh and seeds. You can cut the pumpkin into small pieces and scatter it in your garden or local woods. This will reduce waste, support your local ecosystem and provide food for wildlife.
Pass Them On To Your Pets
Did you know that pumpkins are safe for your pets? They’re packed with vitamins and fibre, making them great for dogs and cats and help with their digestion.
Check With Your Local Council For Special Pumpkin Disposal
Some local councils and waste management companies will offer special collections for organic waste, particularly after Halloween. Separate your pumpkin from general waste and put it in your food or garden waste bin.
This makes sure that your old pumpkins are composted or turned into biogas through anaerobic digestion, rather than going straight to landfill.
Can I Eat Pumpkins?
All varieties of pumpkin are edible. They are packed with lots of nutrients such as vitamins A, C and E, and have fibre and potassium.
Carving pumpkins are often a bit stringier and more watery than other types, but as long as you keep the pumpkin cool, check it for bugs and ideally use it within 24 hours of carving it, you’ll be good to go! If your pumpkin has been used as a decoration and left outside for a while, you must check for signs of decay before deciding to eat it. If this is the case, composting might be the better option!
Using the innard and flesh in a cosy autumn recipe is the best way to use your pumpkin after Halloween.
After you initially carve out the inside, use this bit as soon as possible, perhaps in baking or store it in the fridge for later. Some great pumpkin recipes include:
- Pumpkin soup
- Boil the pumpkin with stock and seasonings, and then blend for an autumnal classic,
- Pumpkin cake
- Try following a traditional carrot cake recipe, but use pumpkin instead of carrot for a fun twist,
- Roasted pumpkin seeds
- Dry off the seeds and coat them in a seasoning combo of your choice for a tasty snack,
- Pumpkin pie
- With a shortcrust pastry tart case and plenty of sugar, milk and butter, why not try this American tasty treat,
- Pumpkin spice latte
- Blend the pumpkin into a puree, then add coffee, milk, cinnamon and maple syrup for the perfect homemade pumpkin-spiced latte.
Choose To Avoid Landfill
Here at REMONDIS, we are dedicated to responsible waste practices, so we urge you to think twice before discarding your pumpkins in general rubbish.
One of the worst things we can do with pumpkins after Halloween is send them to landfills. When organic matter, such as pumpkins, decomposes in landfills, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. By diverting your pumpkin waste away from landfills, whether you eat it, donate it, or compost it, you are reducing your environmental impact and helping the planet.
This Halloween, let’s keep the spooky fun going whilst protecting the planet at the same time. Together we can ensure that pumpkins serve a purpose long after Halloween.