Where to Recycle Your Halloween Pumpkins in Omaha
As always, we have FREE pumpkin & gourd drop-off sites around the Omaha, Nebraska area.
Plus, for the first time ever, we’re hosting the first annual Great Pumpkin Smash on November 15th. This will be our first fundraiser for our new non-profit, Hillside Foundation.
All collected material will either be fed to local ranch pigs or composted at our industrial composting site, Soil Dynamics.
More details below, plus other zero-waste ideas on how to reuse your Hallowen pumpkins and gourds.
The Great Pumpkin Smash Event
We now have a non-profit called the Hillside Foundation, and we’re throwing a pumpkin smashing event to celebrate the launch!
Nov. 15th, 11am-2pm @ NeighborGood Pantry: 1712 Charleston Dr, Papillion
Here’s how it works …
— We’ll provide the smashing equipment.
— You bring your family and any leftover pumpkins and gourds (no paint, glitter, or candles).
— And then we’ll compost the leftovers for ya :).
We’ll also have family activities, including …
Face painting, smashing competitions, a HayJay Coffee bar, and a raffle to give a free year of Compost Club (worth over $100).
We’re asking for a suggested $35 per-family donation. All proceeds will go to our foundation.
And since we’re hosting this at a food pantry in a time when many are in dire need of food, we’ll also be accepting items such as peanut butter, cereal, soup, muffin/cake mix, canned vegetables, crackers, and stuffing. Along with Kleenex, laundry detergent, and toilet paper. All items will be given to our event host, NeighborGood.
Here’s what we’ll do with that money …
— We’re gonna reinvigorate our school composting program with financial support for schools that can’t afford it. Plus a new approach that’ll help students understand what they’re participating in and give them more ways to compost at home or start a garden.
— Help rural and urban farmers start on-farm organics management programs to lessen their dependency on using chemicals to grow (which will help keep nitrates out of our drinking water).
— Build a circular food-chain stakeholder coalition that’ll present a unified solution to decision-makers within Nebraska and Omaha’s Climate Action Plans and Governor Pillen’s Water Quality and Quantity Task Force.
Free Community Drop-off Sites
We’re back with our FREE community pumpkin & gourd drop-off sites. This time with more options than ever.
We’ll feed pigs at a local ranch to their fullest and then compost the rest!
All sites are accessible at all times, except the Bellevue location. Hours of access below. And note that the dates vary a bit per location.
Be sure to remove any candles or plastic bits. And please no items with paint or glitter.
OCT 31 - NOV 12
Dundee Bank: 5015 Underwood Ave
Presbyterian Church of the Master: 10710 Corby Cir, Omaha
NOV 7 - 17
BUILDERTREND: 11818 I Street, Omaha
NeighborGOOD Pantry: 1712 Charleston Dr, Papillion
CHI CUMC Bergan Mercy: 7500 Mercy Rd, Omaha (Lot G)
*City of Bellevue: 8902 Cedar Island Rd, Bellevue
*CITY OF BELLEVUE - HOURS OF OPERATION:
- Friday, Nov 7 - 12:30 - 3:30 pm
- Saturday, Nov 8 - 8 - 12:00 PM
- Sunday, November 9 - CLOSED
- Monday November 10 - 7-3:30 PM
- Tuesday, Nov 11 - Closed for Vet's Day
- Wednesday, Nov 12 - 7-3:30 PM
- Thursday, Nov 13 7-3:30 PM
- Friday, November 14 7-3:30 PM
- Saturday, November 15 - CLOSED
- Sunday, November 16 - CLOSED
- Monday, November 17 - 7-12:30 PM
3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Landfill Pumpkins
Most of the 1.3 billion lbs. of pumpkins produced wind up in the landfill. Scary thought, right? It's a total environmental nightmare.
Landfilled pumpkins & gourds can take 1-2 decades to break down, meanwhile producing a potent greenhouse gas - methane - which goes into our air, contributing to global warming.
Pumpkins are also full of water. That water combines with other materials in a landfill, creating leachate, a toxic sludge. That sludge can potentially leak into our waterways, causing lots of damage.
They fill up our landfill faster, which means we’ll have to create a new one. Historically, the poor and vulnerable are picked as neighbors for such things.
But you don’t have to be a part of the problem!
9 Other Ways to Repurpose Your Pumpkins
Feed Them to Humans (Like You)
What’s a better use than composting? … Feeding humans!
Less than 20% of pumpkins grown are actually eaten. So let's change that stat! Roast the seeds, make a base broth with the guts, and use the flesh in a delicious curry or pie. Just don't eat the stalk.
Next, Feed Animals!
Chop up your pumpkin and toss it in your backyard. The squirrels (and dear if you’re lucky) will know what to do from there.
Plant Pumpkin Seeds
You'll never need to repurchase seeds again! Save seeds in a cool and dry environment. You can plant them after the first frost has passed. Keep in mind - pumpkins need at least 75 to 100 days to grow.
Feed the Birds
Cut the top of your gourd to form a bowl shape, stick some twigs to the side for perching, use twine to hang, and there you have it - a bird feeder! Be sure it's secure and filled with birdseed. Photo from Get Out with the kids.
Save for Thanksgiving
Good news, ya turkey! Uncarved pumpkins can last up to 12 weeks before rotting. So if they're still whole and firm, hang onto them for Thanksgiving decor.
Make a Pumpkin Vase
Does your pumpkin have some life left? Stuff favorite florals into foam or soil for a conventional autumn display. Prevent it from rotting quicker by keeping it out of the sun. Photo from Alice Stable.com.
Make a Pumpkin Face Mask
Sunken-Pumpkin? If it’s organically grown, mash it up! Pampering yourself with a ghoulish spa day, including a pumpkin facial mask to help fight damaged skin!
Go Pumpkin Bowling
Fill (reusable) plastic bottles with water and set them up in a 10-pin triangle. Then, it's time to strike out another upcycle use with pumpkin bowling. Keep the fall festivities going strong with these ideas here.
Be a Basic Witch & Make PSLs at Home
Skip the drive-thru coffee (and single-use plastic) by making your PSL (pumpkin spice latte) home. Sprinkle cinnamon up top for the sweet-treat here.
Wanna compost year-round?
Check out our year-round compost-drop off & soil-back program called Compost Club. Get access to 60+ drop-off sites around the Greater Omaha Area while getting free compost back every year, plus 20% off all other soil, compost, mulch products from Soil Dynamics.