Across the country, more than one billion pounds of pumpkins are sent to landfills each year. 

Once your Halloween pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns have done their duty, don’t let them haunt the landfill. Give them a second life by reusing or composting them instead. 

When food waste breaks down in landfills, it doesn’t just disappear—it produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Composting keeps organic materials out of landfills and turns them into useful compost and mulch for local parks, yards and gardens. 

If your pumpkin is carved, remove candles and decorations and place it in your green organics cart. Painted pumpkins can be composted only after paint is removed. Wash off water-based, non-toxic paint with water or vegetable oil. If the paint is thick or not biodegradable, put the pumpkin in your gray landfill cart. 

If your pumpkin is uncarved and in good condition, reuse it for the rest of the season: 

• Roast the seeds for a crunchy snack
• Make or freeze puree for future recipes
• Use it as natural fall décor for the rest of the season 

Efforts like composting support the city’s Climate Action Plan goals and contribute to a Sustainable Carlsbad. The city’s Climate Action Plan Dashboard tracks progress toward reducing emissions and building a more sustainable Carlsbad. It’s one of several dashboards available on the city’s website for anyone who wants to follow progress on city goals. 

More information
Organic Waste Composting webpage
What Goes Where webpage
What Goes Where video