According to Garbage to Garden, around a billion pounds of pumpkins end up in landfills every year. That's equivalent to over 2,600 blue whales. Bostonians can divert post-Halloween gourd-ness with the city's free composting program.
Since 2022, Garbage to Garden (and Save That Stuff) have been turning residents' food scraps into nutrient-rich compost. Their green and white trucks empty compost bins on the same day as trash and recycle pickup. If you're not a part of the program, you can sign up here. The city will send a free indoor and outdoor bucket, a sample of compost bags, and a magnet with what can and can not be composted.
Since some residents decorate, paint, cover, or use artificial preservatives to extend the life of their pumpkins, there are some tips that the Garbage to Garden suggests. For example, candles, glitter, and non-compostable items should not be left in compost bins. If pumpkins are painted, only water-based paints are accepted.
If you want to meet other zero-waste enthusiasts, or you just want to learn more about the composting process, consider attending the city's Pumpkin Smash. It includes 4 hours of throwing pumpkins and other composting games.
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