The Cool Down
Local farmers reveal why you shouldn't toss your pumpkins after Halloween: 'I a…
Over one billion pounds of pumpkins rot in U.S. landfills each year after Halloween, but there are better ways to use them.
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Tackling Halloween Waste: How to Bake, Snack, or Compost Your Jack-O'-Lantern
Halloween's Hidden Waste: The Billion-Pound Pumpkin Problem and Sustainable SolutionsNew York, NY – As Halloween approaches, a new focus is being placed on the environmental impact of discarded pumpkins. Each year, over a billion pounds of pumpkins end up in U.S. landfills, where they decompose and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The Associated Press recently highlighted this issue, offering practical solutions for a more sustainable post-Halloween cleanup.Kiki Sideris, reporting for AP, demonstrated that every part of a pumpkin is edible or compostable. She showcased how the "guts" can be pureed and used in baked goods like muffins, while the seeds can be roasted for a nutritious snack. These culinary uses offer a delicious way to reduce waste.Dante Sclafani, the Queens Farm Compost Coordinator, emphasized the importance of composting. "A large percentage of what ends up going to landfill is stuff that could have been composted," Sclafani stated. "It's organic material that we could have composted instead. So even just cutting down something like pumpkins, which we go through a lot of in this season, could really help curb how many garbage bags you're putting out and tossing into landfill." He advised that for home composting, pumpkins should be chopped into smaller pieces to accelerate decomposition and mixed with dry leaves or cardboard for balance. For those without home composting, many farms and city drop-off sites accept clean, unpainted pumpkins. This initiative encourages individuals to consider the lifecycle of their Halloween decorations, promoting a return to the earth rather than contributing to landfill waste.
