Every year, Americans purchase tens of millions of decorative pumpkins to carve, paint, and display for Halloween.
After the celebration is over, many of these pumpkins are discarded, ending up in landfills where they decompose and release methane gas — a harmful greenhouse gas that exacerbates global warming. But just how much "climate horror" do pumpkin emissions really cause?
According to The Washington Post, in 2022, the U.S. harvested around 2 billion pounds of pumpkins designated for sale, excluding those that were processed into pies or bread, or canned, according to data from the Department of Agriculture. Assuming that all of this pumpkin ends up in landfills, it could release around 7,500 tons of methane, according to Robert Chubajczyk, an environmental scientist at Białystok University of Technology in Poland. This is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from over 45,000 cars, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
So, What's the Best Way to Dispose of Pumpkins?
Fortunately, there are more sustainable and fun ways to dispose of pumpkins after Halloween, such as composting them, smashing them, or feeding them to farm animals, as long as no non-biodegradable materials like paint or decorations have been added.
Composting Pumpkin Leftovers
If you have a garden or some space for planting, you can compost your pumpkins yourself, giving your soil a little extra boost for spring planting. According to The Washington Post, fermented pumpkins, which decompose through the action of oxygen-loving bacteria, release very little methane. Emissions are much higher when pumpkins are sealed in landfills without oxygen, where bacteria that produce methane thrive.
Pumpkins are about 90% water, which makes them decompose quickly, says Beverly Gasezkowski, CEO of Scarce, an environmental nonprofit based in Illinois. Good composting relies on a mix of wet and dry materials, so pumpkin, with its high water content, makes a great addition to the dry leaves that many people are already composting around this time of year.
To speed up the composting process, you can cut the pumpkin into pieces or smash it with a mallet to start the breakdown. However, researchers warn that you should remove the seeds before composting, or you may end up with a pumpkin patch growing in your garden next season.
It's also important to remove any decorations, such as plastic eyes or melted wax from candles, as these will not break down.
Crushing Pumpkins — A Fun and Eco-Friendly Alternative
If you don't have a garden, you can still make sure your pumpkins are composted. Many local governments and nonprofits in communities that celebrate Halloween organize pumpkin collection after the holiday to compost them. Some people also choose to crush their pumpkins before donating them to a composting facility or farm field.
Last year, the American nonprofit Jaszczurowski organized pumpkin crushing in 95 locations, collecting at least 241 tons of pumpkins.
Using Pumpkins as Animal Feed
Finally, you can donate your pumpkins to be used as animal feed at local farms or zoos. After Halloween, some zoos collect pumpkins and feed them to animals like giraffes and elephants. Farmers also gather pumpkins to feed livestock, such as chickens, sheep, goats, and cows.
In the U.S. and Canada, organizations like Pumpkins for Pigs connect people with farms and animal sanctuaries across 600 locations to distribute pumpkins as animal feed. For the health of the animals, these organizations request that pumpkins not be donated if they are painted with acrylic paint, covered with rhinestones, or decorated with non-edible materials.
Eventually, while pumpkins may seem harmless, their impact on climate change can be significant if not disposed of properly. By composting, crushing, or feeding them to animals, we can all play a role in reducing the environmental impact of Halloween festivities and contribute to more sustainable practices that help reduce methane emissions and benefit the planet.
