How to dispose of pumpkin waste this season

This is the time of year when you buy a pumpkin, grab a knife, and start your masterpiece. But what happens when your pumpkin lantern goes from spooky decoration to soggy decay?

Each year, pumpkins are the products to be picked during the Halloween season. According to the USDA, last year, 2 billion pounds of pumpkins were grown in the United States. About 85% of pumpkins are grown for carving and decoration, which creates a lot of waste.

Agriculture accounts for 10% of America’s greenhouse gas emissions, so what can you do with your pumpkin? First you can eat them!

“Our favorite thing to do with pumpkin is make pumpkin soup,” said life science professor Matt Arrington.

But when a pumpkin goes bad, there is an alternative to simple disposal: composting.

“It’s just easier to throw them away,” said coed Hadleigh Cranston.

While it might sound intimidating, it’s easier than you might think

“It’s as easy as putting a bin under your sink. B pick up your banana peels or your apple cores, ”Arrington said.

Composting helps the soil and the environment by using it to enrich the soil for plants instead of throwing away the waste that goes to the landfill.

“There are a whole host of things that don’t need to go to the landfill that can complement your own soil and gardens at home,” Arrington said.

BYU has a compost bin right outside the Life Sciences Greenhouse and it’s a simple way to reduce your carbon footprint. Remember the rule of composting: if a vegan can eat it, you can compost it.