Don't toss out your old Halloween pumpkin after the holiday is over. It's harmful and there are many beneficial ways to reuse them.
Never Throw Away Your Jack-o’-Lantern—This Is Why
Updated on Oct. 14, 2024
Every year, my kids have so much fun selecting pumpkins at our local pumpkin patch. A few days before Halloween, we decide what type of designs to carve into the pumpkins. Our jack-o’-lanterns are then proudly displayed for the holiday, all lit up from the inside.
But after picking out the perfect pumpkin, carving it and displaying it, what do you do with it? You may be surprised to find that there are many uses for your old jack-o’-lantern. Plus learn why throwing a pumpkin in the garbage is actually harmful for our earth and water supply.
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Why You Shouldn’t Throw Old Pumpkins Away
After Halloween is over, people have leftover pumpkins that they no longer need or want to display. It’s fairly common practice to throw them away. After all, won’t the pumpkins break down naturally? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.
According to the University of Illinois Extension, while it’s true that pumpkins are an organic waste (not the decorative plastic ones, of course), they produce the potent greenhouse gas methane as they decompose without oxygen in landfills. These decaying pumpkins also leach water that filters through the trash piles and pollutes nearby waterways.
Smash and Compost Pumpkins Instead
Instead of throwing away your pumpkins, it’s better to smash them and then use them to make compost. Just make sure you remove candles, ribbons, paint, and any other non-organic materials first. Properly composted pumpkins do not produce methane and contribute to soil health.
If you don’t have a compost pile, cut up your pumpkin into smaller pieces. Place these throughout in your garden. The pumpkin pieces will still break down nicely and offer lots of great nutrients.
Backyard tip: Remove pumpkin seeds beforehand if you don’t want volunteer vines next summer. If you do want to save seeds for next year’s garden, set aside a handful, rinse with water and allow the seeds to dry in a cool dry place for several weeks. Then store them in a bag or seed packet to plant next summer.
Dispose of Your Pumpkins Responsibly
Never dump your pumpkins, straw, cornstalks or other fall decorations on private property or in nature preserves. First of all, littering is often a criminal offense. In addition, wild animals are often drawn to the waste and they may get hit by passing traffic.
Other Ways to Repurpose Pumpkins
Make a Pumpkin Planter
If your gourds aren’t ready for the compost pile, add potting soil and flowers, or insert a small potted plant, to create a festive pumpkin planter.
Feed the Birds
Fill the hollow pumpkin with your favorite kind of birdseed for an easy DIY bird feeder.
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