Cuyahoga County: Pumpkin disposal impacts landfills

Trashing carved pumpkins sends millions of tons of organic material to landfills where it generates methane, a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. Environmental educators caution that the post-Halloween spike in waste creates a concentrated burst of these emissions that accelerates climate change.

Kay McKeen, executive director of the environmental education non-profit Scarce, notes that residents typically discard pumpkins between Halloween and the Thanksgiving holiday. McKeen describes this period as a massive release of methane into the landfill system all at once. The gas is generated because pumpkins rot anaerobically in the oxygen-poor environment of a landfill.

The process also produces leachate, a toxic sludge formed when pumpkin water mixes with other waste and moisture. Chris Enroth, a horticulture educator with the University of Illinois Extension, estimates that hundreds of millions of pumpkins require disposal each autumn. Enroth points out that the sheer volume of organic material entering the landfill system is substantial.

Composting offers a solution by introducing water and oxygen to the decomposition process. Enroth explains that aerobic composting uses microbes, bacteria, and fungi to break down the pumpkin without producing methane. This method returns nutrients to the soil, allowing the organic matter to be used in gardens.

Residents can place pumpkins in curbside compost bins or designated apartment building compost areas. Those without access to curbside services can look for local drop-off sites or dedicated pumpkin drop-off events. Since 2014, Scarce and the University of Illinois Extension have saved over 1,600 tons of pumpkins from landfills through their annual Pumpkin Smash events.

Experts advise against leaving pumpkins in parks or for wildlife to eat. While generally safe, pumpkins can make small animals like hedgehogs sick and may attract predators to residential areas. Additionally, congregating animals can increase the risk of disease transmission.

Food is the single most common material sent to U.S. landfills, and wasted food accounts for 58% of landfill methane emissions. Enroth suggests that residents use the fall to start home compost piles using leaves, grass clippings, and pumpkins. This combination of materials helps create nutrient-rich compost for the following year.