News

Put your pumpkin to use after Hallowe'en

This feature was added on 26th October 2009

Are you wondering what to do with any pumpkins once Hallowe'en is over? Instead of putting them in the bin, why not try composting or recycling them?

Pumpkins are perfect for composting at home, along with your garden waste and other fruit and vegetable scraps. As well as this, you can compost tea bags, cardboard egg boxes and even scrunched up paper. This will all provide a free soil improver for your garden.

The average family composting at home saves 150kg of waste from going to landfill each year. In the last year alone, over 2,000 composters have been sold by the Hertfordshire Waste Partnership (WasteAware), helping to divert more than 300 tonnes of biodegradable waste from landfill.

Derrick Ashley, Chair of the Hertfordshire Waste Partnership and Executive Member for Waste, said: 'If put into landfill, waste such as vegetable peelings or grass cuttings can cause powerful greenhouse gases to be released. Home composting is a simple alternative, enabling residents to do their bit for the environment by reducing emissions of methane. As well as environmental benefits, there are also financial benefits as composting at home eliminates the costs of transporting waste by road.'

Anyone with a garden, allotment or outside space can make use of a composter. Hertfordshire residents can buy home compost bins for as little as £18 (RRP £39) and get a second half price. This offer is available through WasteAware, working with Straight plc. Find out what is on offer here.

If you don't have a composter, you can always recycle the pumpkin as part of your food waste recycling service where available. Details about kerbside recycling collections in your area are available from your district council.