How Many Pumpkins End Up In Landfills?

But after Halloween comes the sometimes unpleasant task of disposing of old pumpkins. According to the US Department of Energy, most of the 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins produced in the U.S. end up in a landfill.

How many pumpkins are thrown away each year?

Over 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins are thrown away every year, and just one pumpkin can take over 20 years to decompose in a landfill environment.

How many pumpkins get wasted?

The pumpkin waste amounts to about 18,000 tons of pumpkin, including flesh and seeds. The research was done by Hubbub and Knorr. Their joint research found that 40% of UK consumers buy pumpkins to carve, but 60% report they do not use the pumpkin after carving and instead throw it out.

Where does the pumpkin waste go?

landfill
Pumpkin power
It’s not just food waste that concerns scientists. According to the US Department of Energy, pumpkins that end up in landfill will decompose and eventually emit methane – a greenhouse gas with more than 20 times the warming effect of carbon dioxide.

How many pumpkins are wasted on Halloween?

Well, in the UK and the US, the vast majority of pumpkins actually end up in landfill – right after October 31. Of the nearly 2 billion pounds of pumpkin grown in the United States in 2014, an estimated 1.3 billion pounds were simply trashed instead of eaten or composted, according to the US Department of Energy.

What happens to unsold pumpkins after Halloween?

Look local; some towns do a pumpkin collection drive after Halloween, and some farms put out calls for local pumpkin donations. Organizations like Scarce and Pumpkins for the People also have drop-off sites where you can take your old pumpkins, and then they’ll compost them to keep them out of landfills.

What happens to pumpkins in landfills?

“In a landfill, pumpkins and other organic materials are buried and rot without oxygen, which creates the potent greenhouse gas methane,” Enroth says. Instead, give gourds a second life by donating them to a zoo or wildlife rehab center or composting them, either personally or through a municipal drop-off program.

Is carving pumpkins wasteful?

That means most pumpkins grown in the US aren’t eaten. Instead, many of the 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins produced each year are used for decoration. They’re carved and placed on porches, then tossed out when they start to rot. While some people roast the seeds, most of the perfectly edible flesh is wasted.

How long does it take a pumpkin to decompose?

about 8-12 weeks
Let pumpkin decompose in compost pile.
It will take about 8-12 weeks for the pumpkin pieces to completely break down.

Do rotting pumpkins produce methane?

The issue with throwing away pumpkins, according to Jo Cosgrove, an ecological and horticultural restoration consultant with Trees.com, is that as they decompose, they emit methane. This greenhouse gas, she said, is 80 times stronger than carbon dioxide and has a far more significant impact on global warming.

How many pounds of pumpkins are wasted each year?

You might be tempted just to throw them all away—and that’s certainly what many people do. Every year, more than 1 billion pounds of pumpkin get tossed out and left to rot in America’s landfills.

What percentage of pumpkins are eaten?

About 40% of consumers buy fresh pumpkins to hollow out and carve to celebrate Halloween, but 60% of those admit they do not use the flesh, according to research by the stock cube brand Knorr and the environmental charity Hubbub.

What is the carbon footprint of a pumpkin?

pumpkins have a low carbon footprint.
It takes around 0.14 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of fresh pumpkins, a car driving equivalent of 0.5 miles or 0.75 kilometers.

Should you throw your pumpkins in the woods?

One thing you can do with your old jack-o-lantern is actually nothing at all: just leave it someplace in your yard. Local wildlife, like birds and squirrels, will have a nice time chowing down on your old, carved pumpkin.

What can you do with pumpkin waste?

5 things to do with your pumpkin instead of putting it in the bin

1. 1) Compost Your Pumpkin.
2. 2) Feed it to wildlife.
3. 3) Put down the knife.
4. 4) Eat your pumpkin.
5. 5) Drink your pumpkin.

Will mice eat pumpkins?

Mice, such as the white-footed mouse and the deer mouse, will not only nibble on your pumpkins but they will decimate them at all stages of a pumpkin’s life cycle. They’ll even dig up and eat planted pumpkin seeds, though they prefer early stage pumpkin plants.

Are pumpkins wasted in Halloween?

Here are some tips to enjoy Halloween while minimizing your environmental impact. Millions of pumpkins are tossed in the trash after Halloween, clogging up landfills and adding to food waste.

How much waste does Halloween produce?

This is especially true with children’s costumes. In fact, over 12 million pounds of textile waste is generated each year in the U.S., and Halloween costumes are a major contributor – nearly 85% of costumes wind up in landfills eventually.

What happens if you bury a whole pumpkin?

Plant It: If you don’t have a compost pile, you can still compost pumpkins by simply burying them in the yard. Choose any area that needs extra nutrients, or bury the decaying pumpkins in the garden and they will naturally decay.

Do pumpkins rot if not carved?

Uncarved pumpkins can last two to three months if kept out of the hot sun or freezing temperatures. Carved pumpkins may last only a few days, so time your carving accordingly if you want to display them on Halloween.

Are pumpkins good for the soil?

They make great fertilizer — just make sure you’ve removed the seeds (unless you want your own pumpkin patch to sprout by next fall!), and anything else that won’t compost.