How To Recycle Your Old Pumpkins

As we transition from spooky szn into the gauntlet of winter holidays (please note: it is indeed far too early to play All I Want For Christmas Is You, sorry) Halloween revelers in Philadelphia are running into a squishy, soggy problem: rotting pumpkins. Instead of embracing your inner Billy Corgan and smashing those gourds, here’s some options for reusing or disposing of your old pumpkins, many courtesy of Pennsylvania Resources Council.

Whole, Undecorated Pumpkins

You can still eat these! They may have been sold as “carving” pumpkins, but they are perfectly edible. You can use them in soups and other hearty dishes, or even make a pumpkin milkshake. Or, for the beauty-inclined, the PRC also has a recipe for a pumpkin pulp facemask (technically edible).

• Alternatively, your whole, undecorated pumpkins can also be donated to the delightful Pumpkins for Pigs program to feed local livestock.

Carved Pumpkins

If you already compost, you can smash them up and add them to your bin — just be sure to take the seeds out so they don’t sprout. Or, you can leave them in the woods for wildlife.

• If you don’t compost but are interested in learning how, check out the PRC’s virtual workshop schedule.
• If you’d rather opt for the white glove option, Circle Compost in Philly will pick up and compost your old pumpkins for $4 a pop (or, for free if you’re already a member).

Pumpkin Guts

You don’t want these in your compost, but you can pick out the seeds and roast them for a zero-waste snack.

Painted or Decorated Pumpkins

If you cut off the decorated parts, you can dispose of these like you would the carved ones.

🎃 And if none of these options work, you can roll the dice, stick them in your yard (if you have one) and hope the squirrels/rats take it from there.

H/t to Hey Pittsburgh newsletter editor Francesca Dabecco for some of these ideas!