By 1808Delaware
For some people, when Halloween is over, out go the pumpkins. Others keep them around through Thanksgiving.
In either case, the question can arise as to the best way to dispose of them once used.
In Westerville, pumpkin disposal is an organized affair. The City recently reminded residents to toss them in the compost or trash, not yard waste. The same goes for any items bearing nuts or seeds, even apples.
Residents are welcome to place pumpkins in the City’s food waste composting receptacles. Find a location near you.
Leaves collected by the Public Service Department are transported to a third-party for mulching. Items like squash and other fruit can disrupt the order of things within the mulch. As many green thumbs will know, the mulching process requires a correct balance of temperature and moisture (among other factors).
Additionally, if any seeds survive the mulching process, they can sprout into unwelcome guests for the unsuspecting landscaper.
Please contact the Public Service Department at (614) 901-6740 or by email at publicservice@westerville.org with any questions. Learn how you can Save More Than Food with the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO).
Elsewhere in the county, and for those who would like to recycle or reuse pumpkins, the Delaware Soil & Water Conservation District has suggested the following:
- Bury the shell in your garden and let worms and other critters turn your pumpkins into fertile soil. Cut the shell into chunks first and remove the seeds, unless you plan on planting a pumpkin patch for next year.
- Roast the seeds for yourself or wildlife to eat. You can save them for planting as well; see below for more details on both of these options.
- Make a temporary bird feeder. It is best to do this with a fresh pumpkin as a moldy one can be harmful to birds. You can even roast the pumpkin seeds to put into your feeder, as long as you don’t add any oil or seasoning to them. Be sure to compost your feeder after a few days, before it begins to rot. Learn how to make your own at https://rangerrick.org/crafts_activities/recycle-a-pumpkin-into-a-bird-feeder/.
- Compost your pumpkin! You can simply throw it in your pile and see how long it takes to decompose, or you can cut it into small chunks to speed up the process. As with the burying method, be sure to remove seeds first to avoid growing unwanted pumpkins. • Leave chunks of pumpkin shell beneath your bird feeders to give opossums, raccoons, and other scavengers a tasty treat, which might keep them from eating your bird seed (for at least a short time).
- Plant your seeds and help pollinators. If you do wish to grow a pumpkin patch, the obvious option would be to save your seeds for planting. Once they bloom, their bright orangish-yellow flowers will attract pollinating insects, which help promote soil and water conservation. Learn how to save your seeds at https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/pumpkin/saving-pumpkin-seeds-how-to-store-pumpkin-seed-for-planting.htm.
- Make fruit leather by dehydrating pumpkin flesh. In September we told you how “Pumpkins Have Delighted People for Ages,” and this is just one of the edible delights that was mentioned.
