Tell your family, tell your friends, we want your pumpkins after Halloween ends!

When the Halloween celebrations have concluded, and the trick-or-treaters have run your candy stash dry, it is time to start thinking about what to do with your festive décor. After receiving comments from area residents, the SMSC Organics Recycling Facility is excited to offer a free pumpkin recycling program to the public for the first time. The program will allow residents to drop off their old pumpkins free of charge to compost them into a rich soil amendment.

November 1 through 9, residents can drop off their pumpkins during the facility’s normal business hours Monday through Saturday. Pumpkins will only be accepted if they are free of decorations and candles as these items often contain metal, so be sure to remove those items beforehand!

So, why is it so important to properly recycle your pumpkins?

Each year, billions of pumpkins get tossed into landfills and are often submerged under multiple layers of waste. When this happens, the pumpkins don’t have access to oxygen, making it very difficult for them to decompose correctly. This often results in the production of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that can be very harmful to the environment. Help support the SMSC Organics Recycling Facility’s efforts to reduce landfill waste by bringing your pumpkins to us this year!

Free Pumpkin Drop-Off Hours

November 1-9

Monday-Friday                7am-5pm

Saturday                           8am-4pm