Shifting Seasons: Give Halloween pumpkins a second life through composting

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) - Halloween may be over, but your pumpkin can still serve a purpose. Composting offers a way to keep it out of the landfill and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Pumpkins tossed in the garbage in Deschutes County end up at Knott Landfill, where they are buried with other waste.

“This is where we see all waste that comes into Deschutes County right now,” said Jackie Wilson of Deschutes County Solid Waste. “So if your pumpkin goes in the garbage, it comes into this large cell.”

Buried pumpkins and other organic waste break down with little oxygen, producing methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Knott Landfill collects and burns that gas to reduce its warming impact.

Composting can keep pumpkins out of the landfill altogether while returning nutrients to the soil.

Amy Jo Detweiler of Oregon State University Extension Service recommends cutting pumpkins into smaller pieces before adding them to a compost pile or incorporating them into the soil.

“You’ll want to make sure you’re actively turning it and adding some moisture there so it breaks down more quickly here,” Detweiler said.

Residents can also leave the composting to someone else. Deschutes Recycling will accept pumpkins for free at Knott Landfill on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Customers with Cascade Disposal or Republic Services yard debris carts can place their pumpkins in those carts for composting.

For a more festive send-off, the Green Teams at Caldera High School and Bend High School are hosting free Pumpkin Smash events. Caldera’s event is Nov. 7, followed by Bend High’s on Nov. 8.

Before composting, remove candles, wax and decorations. Pumpkins with paint, glitter or other materials that cannot be removed should go in the garbage.

Choosing the compost pile over the trash can turn a seasonal decoration into a resource for the next growing season.