Remember, remember, come the first of November,
Halloween brought fun and mirth,
But don’t let that pumpkin
Rot in a waste bin
When it could nourish the earth.
Whatever you're dressing up as on Saturday, be a Halloween hero by composting your pumpkin lantern once the festivities are over.
Every November millions of rotting pumpkins are thrown away, ending up in landfill or incineration. But if you compost your pumpkin you'll be returning valuable nutrients to the soil. Check out best-selling composters here.
Tips to dispose of pumpkins
If pumpkins have been used as lanterns, remember to remove all items used as decoration, such as candles, wax, foil etc.
Smash the pumpkins or cut them up into pieces – a larger surface area will attract more composting microorganisms, resulting in faster breakdown.
Pumpkins can be smashed with a hammer or spade - it’s quick, easy and creates a mush that’s compost-ready.
They’re easier to smash if they’ve been kept in the warm and have started to rot.
Smashing pumpkins
Why not make an occasion of pumpkin disposal and go along to a Pumpkin Smash?
These are organised events where people are invited to take their used pumpkin lanterns to be smashed up in a variety of fun ways and then composted.
Check to see if there’s a Pumpkin Smash taking place near you. They’re a great way to teach kids about composting.
Save the seeds:
· Try this delicious snack to serve at Halloween parties: give pumpkin seeds a rinse, then toss in a little olive oil, salt and paprika and fry them for 5 minutes until golden brown. Delicious!
· Alternatively, save them till spring and plant them in your garden.