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Not certain what to do with Cucurbita pepo after Halloween ? Please do n’t discombobulate them in the trash … or into the woodwind ! There are a number of eco - friendly way to recycle pumpkins , or even upcycle them to function a better 2d determination rather . Frombaked goods and blackguard treat to composting peak , read along to learn the 9 best sustainable room to habituate or dispose of pumpkins once you ’re done using them as free fall decor . Plus , memorise what NOT to do with pumpkin after Halloween !

The Pumpkin Waste Problem

More than1 billion poundsof pumpkins are grown in the United States each class . The vast majority of those are used for decoration , pouring into local landfill after October 31st . Once they strike the landfill , pumpkins decompose in an anaerobiotic state of matter and releasemethane – a powerful greenhouse flatulency . In fact , theInternational vitality Agencystates that methane is more than 30 times more detrimental to our surroundings and mood crisis than CO2 is ! Even more , landfills lead to 14 % of methane discharge in the United States .

That ’s not to say we ca n’t enjoy a few festive pumpkins in the fall ! Yet it ’s authoritative to be conscious consumers , and make an endeavour to throw away of pumpkins in a sustainable manner to aid reduce our impingement on the climate . Plus , why waste perfectly good food ?

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Six pumpkins are lined up along brick steps in two rows of three. They vary in color from light green to dark green, pink, blue, and mustard yellow.

Disposing of Whole, Painted or Carved Pumpkins

Pumpkin disposal options vary depending on theage and conditionof the autumn pumpkin , such as if it was painted or cut up .

Is it okay to throw a pumpkin into the woods?

No , you should n’t throw Cucurbita pepo in the woods . While it may fathom like a nice , well - intentioned approximation to toss older autumn pumpkin into the woods or other wild space to naturally decompose and “ prey the wildlife ” , most ecologists andwildlife expertsadvise against it . Why ?

When in doubt , it ’s best to impart nature as undisturbed as possible . Instead , postdate these eco - friendly pumpkin disposal melodic theme – or other ways to use them !

What Do To With Pumpkins After Halloween (At a Glance)

Sustainable Ways to Use Pumpkins

alternatively of composting them right away , here are several ways to recycle and USE old Halloween pumpkins that are still in good term .

1) Eat or Preserve Pumpkins

One of the secure ways to apply pumpkin after Halloween is to eat them ! Pumpkins are loaded with antioxidants , fiber , vitamins and mineral . We make out toroastpumpkins ( which makes them sweeter than steaming ) and add together the build to baked goodness , creamy squash soup , our favoritepumpkin chili , and more . Pumpkin and winter squash can be used interchangeably in most recipe , such as butternut or kabocha .

you may also blend roast pumpkin build tomake pumpkin puree , or make odorous pumpkin butter ! Homemade pumpkin puree is easy to make ( take how here ) and more fresh and flavorsome than transcribed pumpkin . Use it in sunbaked goods likepumpkin pieandsourdough pumpkin dinero or gem , or in smoothies , spicy soups , sauce , stews , curry , lentil , chili pepper , creamy pasta dishes ( hellooo pumpkin raviolis ) and more .

crap pumpkin puree is a fantastical way topreserve pumpkins , as you may salt away pumpkin puree ( or Cucurbita pepo butter ) in the freezer for up to a year . To save space in the deep freezer , you may also make dry pumpkin pulverisation : spread pumpkin puree out on linedfood dehydratortrays , juiceless totally until brittle , and then grind it into a okay powder . memory pumpkin gunpowder in the pantry and sprinkle it into a wide variety of meals .

A landfill is shown with a variety of orange pumpkins that have been superimposed on the image to reflect pumpkins being thrown into the trash and ending up in the landfill.

Yes , all autumn pumpkin are technically edible . In fact , many of the more flowery - looking speciality “ pumpkin ” are really varieties ofsweet wintertime squash , which are absolutely toothsome for broil ! Cinderella , Fairy Tale or Musquee de Provence are a few prime case . On the other hand , Hellenic orange jack - atomic number 8 - lantern pumpkins are a little more bland and stringy . Those are best used for soup , stew , sauce , or dog treats – rather than the star of your holiday autumn pumpkin Proto-Indo European . ‘ Sugar Pie ’ or baking pumpkins are the best orangish pumpkin vine to eat .

2) Roast Pumpkin Seeds to Eat

Do n’t rent pumpkin seeds go to waste ! or else , scoop out the semen and roast them . Homemade roasted pumpkin seeds are adelicious healthy snack – full of mineral , vitamins , and protein . They ’re easy to make and season any way you like .

TIP : soak pumpkin seedsin a light salt water brine overnight before roasting them . Like sprouted ejaculate , the inebriate outgrowth helps reduce phytic back breaker ( an anti - nutrient ) and makes roasted Cucurbita pepo seed exponentially more nutritive , crunchy , and easy to concentrate !

Get our Crunchy Soaked and Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Recipe here .

A set of several botanical pumpkins on a small round wood table in a garden setting. There are five modest size white decorated pumpkins, three with a variety of colorful pressed dried flowers adhered to the outside of the pumpkins, and two with green ferns on the pumpkins coming from stem and down the sides of the pumpkin. Large fern plants are in the background

3) Make Healthy Pumpkin Dog Treats

Pumpkin is a popular healthy dog treat , often added as an factor to dog food or serve plain on its own . Most dogs passion pumpkin ! According toPetMD , pumpkin is slap-up for a dog’sdigestive systemand can help comfort both diarrhoea and constipation alike . They also indicate grinding up roasted pumpkin seeds to sprinkle into dog food .

There are a number of ways to feed pumpkin to hotdog . you could give dogs homemade pumpkin puree , teetotal thin slices of plain unfermented pumpkin in afood dehydratorto make dog treat chew ( great for long terminal figure memory board ! ) , or try an easy pumpkin dog treat recipelike this one .

4) Make a Pumpkin Face Mask

Here ’s a unequalled direction to recycle and habituate pumpkins after Halloween … lather it on your side ! All the antioxidant , vitamins , and mineral find in Cucurbita pepo make it equally as nourishing for skin as it is to eat . Thiseasy pumpkin face mask recipecalls for just three ingredients : pumpkin puree , honey , and gamboge succus . The combination create a hydrating , healing , antibacterial pumpkin face masquerade that will make your peel glow – naturally .

5) Enjoy Them Longer

Rather than say goodbye properly after Halloween , extend the animation of your pumpkins by preserve them a slight longer . We have sex the fall vibes of having uncarved pumpkin around the house through November . Enjoy your pumpkins longer as - is , or sour them into a cuteDIY pumpkin planterorpumpkin flower centerpiece(yet those only last a few days before gain the compost too ) .

One way to make pumpkins last longer is towash themwith soapy water , acetum , or even a dilute bleach potpourri when you first bring in them home . hit dirt , debris , and mold spores helps to delay lifelike decomposition .

Now that we ’ve covered ways to repurpose and use pumpkin vine at dwelling , here are several eco - friendly pumpkin disposal choice .

A large carved jack-o-lantern is starting to wrinkle and decomposes slightly. There are words superimposed on the image, on stating: “Compost me please!” and another below that states: “Don’t toss me in the woods”.

Sustainable Pumpkin Disposal Options

6) Donate to a Local Food Bank

If you have too many to cover , or simply are n’t up for corrode Halloween pumpkins yourself , someone else belike will ! suss out with your local food bank , food pantry , soup kitchen , or other food contribution centers to see if they ’ll accept whole pumpkin that are still in good condition . VisitFeeding AmericaorSoupPantries.orgtofind food banksnear you .

7) Donate to a Local Farm, Zoo, Shelter, or Wildlife Rescue

Pigs , chicken , goats , donkeys , sheep , cattle , dog … you name it ! Pumpkins are not only dependable for mostfarm animals , but are actually a wanted healthy treat ( in moderateness ) . The flesh and seeds extend many vital nutrient and fiber that stomach ahealthy GI systemfor man and animals alike .

Our backyard chickens love to eat autumn pumpkin . If you do n’t have your own farm animal to feed pumpkin to , call around ! Many local farms , zoos , animate being shelters , and wildlife rescues will happily accept pumpkin disposal donations to help fee their animals – as long as the pumpkins are in comely condition and gratuitous of toxic substances .

Try search “ animal delivery near me ” if you do n’t have a place in mind . You could also taste look around or posting “ detached pumpkins ” onCraigslist or Facebook Marketplace – perhaps some neighbors will want them for their animals !

DeannaCat is holding one of the roasted sugar pie pumpkin halves. She is illustrating how the flesh pulls away from the skin very easily. The pumpkin flesh if bright orange with hints of brown from being roasted which adds to the flavor of homemade pumpkin puree. The remainder of the pumpkins lie below along with an empty blender.

8) Compost at Home

compost is a peachy eco - favorable way to fling of Cucurbita pepo and decorative gourds after Halloween . Unlike in landfills , pumpkins that naturally molder in a compost heap do n’t produce methane . They break down into valuablenutrient - rich organic matterinstead !

Whether you utilise acompost tumbler , worm bin , or a classic passive compost pile , it ’s best to break off up whole pumpkins intosmaller chunksto step on it up putrefaction . Have a niggling post - Halloween fun by smash autumn pumpkin before sum them to your compost bin !   Also be certain to add plenty of ironic “ browns ” to your compost to help poise the pumpkin thing .

If you do n’t have a compost pile at home , create an unrehearsed compost system byburyingpumpkin chunks under a shallow bed of soil , leaves , and/or straw . but let them sit and disintegrate in your thousand !

A hand is holding a white ceramic bowl of bright orange puree made from sugar pie pumpkins. Two roasted halves of the squash are laying below, one skin side up the other is flesh side up.

Learn more composting best practices plus 6 ways to compost at nursing home here .

9) City Compost, Green Waste, or Other Pumpkin Disposal Program

If you do n’t compost at home , many municipalities will sustainably dispose of pumpkins for you via composting programs or other recycling military service . For example , we can put pumpkins right in our curbside metropolis green waste bin . Poke around online to see what government authority , nonprofits , or other residential district organizations offer pumpkin recycling or compost computer program in your expanse .   Try searching“pumpkin garbage disposal near me”and see what pops up .

Remember , please do n’t compost pumpkins that have blusher , coruscation , or other stilted objects on them !

And that concludes this lesson on sustainable pumpkin disposal.

Sustainable Pumpkin Disposal: How to Use or Recycle Pumpkins After Halloween

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Instructions

An assortment of heirloom squash are assembled on a brick patio. They contain a variety of bumps, ridges, and colors from green/blue, to mustard yellow, and a frosted mauve/orange. A green fern is in the background along with a rocking chair.

A glass flip top container is shown full to the brim with roasted pumpkin seeds. They are golden brown with specks of salt and paprika. There is a large wooden spoon in the background that has roasted pumpkin flowing over the edges.

A black and white dog is shown with its face and mouth as the center of the image. Inside the dogs mouth is a chunk of orange winter squash that is a treat for the animal.

A small glass jar is filled with a pumpkin mixture that is to be used as a face mask. Next to the glass jar is a brush, cotton pads, and a small orange pumpkin. Making skin care recipes via pumpkin disposal gives your decor a great second use.

A fireplace mantle has six different heirloom pumpkins lined up across the stone work on the ground. They have an assortment of bumps, ridges, and colors ranging from dark mustard yellow, to frosted mauve, to shades of green and blue to light orange. Disposal for these pumpkins will be easy as they are all edible and delicious varieties.

A large pig is eating the pieces of pumpkins that have been spread across the ground.

A two bay compost system is set up with pallet type structures for the walls. One side is almost all of the way full with plant debris in various stages of decomposition.

A close up image of a pumpkin decomposing into a wet swath of soil with tiny green seedlings of various types pop up around it. Pumpkin disposal in your backyard is easy in more wet environments.

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DeannaCat signature, keep on growing.

9 Sustainable Ways to Use or Dispose Of Pumpkins After Halloween