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By Kendalynn Ross

Intern Naturalist/Teacher

What would Halloween be without its jack-o-lanterns and pumpkin pies? Less polluted, that’s what! Pumpkins can cause higher greenhouse gas emissions, leading to increased global warming. That’s a true fright that will haunt our skies for a long time.

Hundreds of thousands of pumpkins make their way into our landfills after Halloween ends and everyone wants to get rid of their rotting gourd. The way landfills are structured makes it difficult for organics to get enough oxygen to break down, as landfills are meant for long term storage, not aeration. This means that when organics, like pumpkins, end up in landfills, they release methane gas. Methane is one of the most prevalent greenhouse gases after carbon dioxide, and more than 28 times as potent. It has an atmospheric lifespan of about 12 years, and is key for the creation of harmful air pollutants. For every 100 pounds of pumpkin that ends up in a landfill, about eight pounds of methane are produced.

So, what should you do to stop pumpkins from haunting us for years to come? You might jump to think that you should leave your rotting pumpkins out somewhere and feed the wildlife as autumn turns to winter. However, feeding wildlife can lead to complaints regarding the damage they might cause, as well as promoting potential disease spread. Leaving your pumpkin to decompose in natural preserves and parks also isn’t as beneficial as one might think. Dumping your pumpkin at a park or preserve can smother the native plants, forcing staff to clean up after you, and create unideal pockets of mold and animal activity.

One helpful way to mitigate your pumpkin waste this month is to feed farm animals. If your pumpkin is still somewhat firm and has no mold, many places will allow you to donate your pumpkin as feed for their livestock. If you have farm animals yourself, pumpkin can be great feed as it is rich in vitamins and can even be a dewormer! You can also roast the seeds and turn the pumpkin into a bird and squirrel feeder, removing it once it is soggy and moldy. You might consider checking with your local yard waste facility, as many make an exception for pumpkins during this time of year. Tossing your pumpkin into a compost heap is another alternative. Composting allows for oxygen to reach organics as they decompose, sequestering any emissions and allowing for it to be returned to the soil. You can smash your pumpkin and compost it yourself, or you can find a place that handles community food scraps, such as the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, to compost it for you. Always double check if composting projects are still accepting collections!

Now armed with the tools and resources to dispose of your pumpkins after Halloween ends, you can enjoy all the festivities filled with the fun frights from friends and family, and not the doom and gloom of methane emissions.

October at

the Nature Center

October 4-5: Halloween Warm-Up. Trails closed from 6 p.m. both nights

Oct. 11: Cedar River Astronomy Club, 7 p.m. free

Oct. 21: Wreath Making Classes open for registration online, 9 a.m.