In landfills, pumpkins and other organic waste produce methane, a greenhouse gas at least 28 times as potent as carbon dioxide

VANCOUVER – When the time comes to remove the pumpkins adorning porches and jack-o’-lanterns illuminating stoops, Clark County Public Health encourages residents to give gourds new life as compost rather than sending them to the landfill. 

Each year after Halloween, about 60% of purchased pumpkins end up in landfills across the United States. In landfills, pumpkins and other organic waste produce methane, a greenhouse gas at least 28 times as potent as carbon dioxide.  

By composting pumpkins, residents can return the nutrient-rich material back to the earth, rather than letting it waste away in a landfill. Before composting, consider saving and toasting pumpkin seeds for a healthy snack and carved pieces to make a pumpkin puree to use in fall recipes. Using the edible pieces reduces the amount of pumpkin turned into food waste.

For the inedible pieces, Clark County residents have several options for composting:

• Free drop off: Take leftover pumpkins to a We Compost Community Hub for free composting. Community hubs are open to all residents and accept all food scraps (not just pumpkins). Find community hub locations on the We Compost webpage. 
• Curbside compost: Clark County residents with curbside yard debris service can put pumpkins in their carts in October and November. Residents in the cities of Vancouver and Ridgefield who have curbside organics service can place pumpkins in their carts any time during the year. 
• Backyard compost: Chop pumpkins into smaller pieces and put them in backyard compost bins or piles. Not yet composting at home but want to learn? Clark County’s Composter Recycler program offers free workshops and composting resources. Visit the Composter Recycler website to learn more. 

Be sure to remove any paint, glitter, decorations or wax before composting carved or decorated pumpkins. When painting pumpkins, opt for water-based paint that can be more easily washed off. For stubborn-to-remove paint, try using a vegetable peeler to remove painted pumpkin skin. If paint or other items can’t be removed, the pumpkin can’t be composted and should go in the garbage.

Learn more about sustainable pumpkin disposal on the Clark County Green Neighbors website.  

Information provided by Clark Co. WA Communications.