Pumpkins and jack-o’-lanterns are everywhere this time of year. But when the Halloween and fall festivities are over, the real scares begin Over a billion pounds of pumpkins grown in the US are thrown into the trash, harming the environment.
Experts say pumpkins and other food waste decomposing in landfills are being turned into food methanea greenhouse gas that is a major contributor to climate change.
Fortunately, there are simple ways to dispose of pumpkins and squash that are better for the environment while helping people and animals.
Below are some local organizations, farmers markets, and composting sites that accept pumpkins. If those options are too boring, some farms will let you smash and destroy your pumpkins in forges.
This DC organization takes undecorated whole, unblemished pumpkins and brings them to other organizations that feed communities in need. The group also accepts jack-o’-lanterns for composting as long as they don’t contain candles, paint or decorations.
Be sure to cut compostable pumpkins into pieces before putting them away any of these places?.
The Pumpkins For Pigs Foundation is a nonprofit organization in Loudoun County, Virginia that helps people find farms, animal shelters and rescues in their area that can take pumpkins, gourds and other items for food or compost.
“Reducing food waste one pumpkin at a time is not just a slogan. We are actively working in communities across North America to support a 50 percent reduction in food waste by 2030,” PFP says of itself. website.
Since 2017, the organization has grown from 10 participating farmers in Virginia to 600 donation sites across the United States and Canada.
Pumpkins For Pigs says it has helped keep 800 tons of food waste out of landfills.
In addition to environmental benefits, donated pumpkins provide nutrition and enrichment for animals while reducing costs for participating farms and sanctuaries.
How to donate Pumpkins For Pigs.
- Find nearby donation site on the PFP website
- Choose a donation day. check if you need to call ahead
- Bring pumpkins and products that are free of mold and decorations that will harm animals. Many farms allow you to leave your pumpkins at their gates or driveways.
Where to compost pumpkins in the DC area?
County residents can bring their pumpkins and food waste to farmers markets throughout the city for free.
Section 1:
- Columbia Heights Farmers Market. 14th and Kenyon Streets NW; open year-round on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm
- Mt. Pleasant Farmers Market. 3200 Mt. Pleasant Street NW; open year-round on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm
Section 2:
- DuPont Circle Farmers Market. 1500 20th Street NW; open year-round on Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m
- George Washington University – Kogan Plaza: 2121 H St NW; accessible 24/7 with the MetroKey app
Section 3:
- University of the District of Columbia Farmers Market, 4340 Connecticut Ave NW; open seasonal Saturdays 9am-1pm
- Palisades Farmers Market. 48th Place NW & MacArthur Blvd NW; open year-round on Sundays from 9am to 1pm
- Cleveland Park Farmers Market. 3426 Connecticut Avenue NW; open seasonal Saturdays 9am-1pm
Section 4:
- Uptown Farmers Market. 14th and Kennedy Streets NW; open seasonal Saturdays 9am-1pm
Section 5:
- Monroe Street Market: 716 Monroe Street NE; open seasonal Saturdays 9am-1pm
Section 6:
- Eastern Market across from Ramsey Pool, 635 North Carolina Ave SE; open year-round on Saturdays, 9am to 1pm)
- SW Farmers Market: 425 M Street SW; open year-round on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm
Section 7:
- First Baptist Church of Dinwood – Outreach Center. 4408 Sheriff Road NE; open year-round on Saturdays from 9am to 12:30pm
Section 8:
- Sycamore & Oak. 1110 Oak Drive SE; open year-round on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm
NBC10’s Lucy Bustamante has some tips on how to put your old Halloween pumpkins to good use.
Virginia compost sites.
Residents can drop off pumpkins and food waste for free at the following markets:
- Old Town Farmers Market. Market Square, 301 King Street; Saturdays from 8 to 12
- Del Rey Farmers Market. corner of East Oxford and Mount Vernon avenues; Saturdays from 8 to 12
- Four Mile Run Farmers’ Market. 4109 Mount Vernon Avenue; Sunday from 9 am to 1 pm; open from April 7 to December 8
- West End Farmers’ Market. 4800 Brenman Park Drive; Sunday from 8.30 to 13.00; open from April 7th to December 31st
- Old Town North Farmers Market, 901 North King Street, 9 a.m. Sunday. – 1:00 p.m
- South Towers Market. 4901 Seminary Road; On Saturdays, from 08:00 to 13:00
Arlington County is conducting a pilot program to collect food scraps and food-soiled paper from bins located outside select apartment buildings. Visit here for more information.
Get rid of pumpkins, jack-o’-lanterns, pumpkins, painted pumpkins and other biodegradable food decor at the Fairfax Composting Center at 10455 Armstrong St. Be sure to dispose of any inorganic items that cannot be composted, such as candles, foil, lights or plastic ornaments.
The county accepts food scraps at the I-95 Landfill at 9850 Furnace Road in Lorton and the I-66 Transfer Station at 4618 West Ox Road in Fairfax.
Residents can also bring their food scraps to all of the county’s farmers markets. Visit here for information regarding the hours and location of each market.
The county is accepting pumpkins and other food waste as part of a pilot program at the Loudoun County Landfill Recycling Center, located at 21101 Evergreen Mills Road in Leesburg. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m
Prince George’s County’s compost program will include curbside pickup to help combat climate change and its disproportionate impact on communities of color. Prince George’s County Bureau Chief Tracy Wilkins reports.
Maryland Compost Facilities.
- Bethesda Central Farm Market, 7600 Arlington Road, Bethesda, MD 20814
- Olney Farmers and Artists Market, 2801 Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD 20832
- FreshFarm Downtown Silver Spring, 1 Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, MD 20910
People who receive county trash and recycling services can also participate in the PGC Composts program. Residents should place a pumpkin on the curb by 6 a.m. Monday for pickup. Pumpkins, dried corn, hay and straw go in paper lawn/leaf bags or in a 32-gallon green cart provided by the district. Pumpkins should be free of inorganic materials such as candles, wax, artificial lighting and loose decorations.
Residents can also drop off pumpkins and other yard decorations at the Brown Station Road Public Container Pad and Recycling Area at 3501 Brown Station Road. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m
Where to smash your pumpkins?
Great Country Farms Pumpkin Chunkin’34355 Snickersville Turnpike, Bluemont, VA 20135; Saturday, November 2 and Sunday, November 3.
“Bring your scrap to our shredding stations and let it fly. The Silo Drop and Zip Wire Sploosh allow you to smash yourself, or bring your pumpkin to the Pumpkin Drop Zone and add it to our upside down! “fireworks” as pumpkins are thrown 40 feet,” according to the Great Country Farms website.
Tickets are $14 for adults and $12 for children.
Cox Farms Pumpkin Madness15621 Braddock Rd, Centerville, VA 20120.
Two days of pumpkin smashing on Saturday, November 2nd and Sunday, November 3rd. Tickets are $25 per person ages 2 and up.