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Be environmentally friendly with your pumpkin disposal

Pumpkins in the landfill do not break down as in a compost pile.
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Army Cadet Rachel Lafitte throws a pumpkin into the bin at the 2015 Pumpkin Smash at Strathcona Gardensin Campbell River. The event is a fun way for families to dispose of their pumpkins which are then turned into compost.

Comox Strathcona Waste Management is reminding residents of the Comox Valley Regional District and the Strathcona Regional District to dispose of their pumpkins in an environmentally responsible manner this Halloween.

When a pumpkin ends up in the landfill it does not break down as it would in a compost pile. The pumpkins decompose without oxygen, producing leachate and methane gas which is harmful to the environment.

You can be part of the solution this Halloween by keeping Jack and his pumpkin buddies out of the landfill.

An option for many residents living in the Village of Cumberland and the Town of Comox is to cut up your pumpkin and put it out for pick-up in the organics curbside collection program.

Another way you can help keep Jack O’ lanterns out of the trash is to chop them up into thumb-sized pieces and put the pieces into a backyard composter. Or put pieces of pumpkin in a vermicompost bin – a kitchen-based worm bin. This way you will get nutrient-rich compost that you can use to grow next year’s pumpkins.

Another option is to attend the 10th annual Pumpkin Smash at the Comox Strathcona Waste Management compost education centre in Campbell River. This is a free, fun-filled family event which keeps thousands of kilograms of pumpkin out of our landfills. These smashed pumpkins will become compost instead of harmful waste. Participants are reminded to remove all objects such as candles and tea lights from their pumpkins prior to smashing.

The Comox Strathcona Waste Management Pumpkin Smash goes Saturday, Nov. 5 and Sunday, Nov. 6, at Strathcona Gardens, 225 S. Dogwood, Campbell River – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days,. It’s free to participate. Donations of non-perishable food items for the Campbell River food bank will be accepted.

Share your pics

Capture your seasonal sustainability efforts with a photo or video and share them with us on social media #pumpkinsmash or #zerowastepumpkin. FMI on composting and other solid waste programs, visit www.cswm.ca/composting