As Halloween approaches, so too does Westchester’s 7th Annual Pumpkin Smash brought to you by the Green Residents of Westchester (GROW).
The Pumpkin Smash is an annual effort by communities to
divert pumpkins from landfills by providing locations for residents to drop off jack-o-lanterns (
minus candles) and other gourds to be composted. It is held each year after Halloween and this year that will be on Saturday and Sunday,
November 8th & 9th in Westchester. Items accepted include
pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks, and hay bales. Be sure to remove candles, stickers, pipe cleaners, and any non-compostable decorations before placing your pumpkins in dumpsters.
This year we will have
two locations!
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Behind the Westchester Community Church: 1840 Westchester Boulevard (all day Nov 8 & 9).
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In the back of the Mayfair Recreation Center parking lot: 10835 Wakefield Street (all day Nov 8 & after 1:30 pm Nov 9)
Many people are surprised to find out that
Illinois is the top producer of pumpkins in the United States. In 2023, Illinois produced more pounds of pumpkins than the five next top producing states combined (Source: USDA).
So why bother to compost them instead of just throwing them in the trash?
Pumpkins are nutritionally valuable since they contain significant amounts of fiber, potassium, and protein. Pumpkins are also 90% water and thus when disposed of in a landfill these nutrients and water are lost from the environment rather than being recycled or reinvested back into the environment. The decomposition of organic matter, such as pumpkins, produces greenhouse gasses. Landfills are the 3rd largest producers of greenhouse gasses so by composting them we can significantly reduce those emissions.
Composting any organic matter is also just plain beneficial. Compost reduces, and in some cases, eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers. It is a nutrient-dense soil amendment that can provide cost savings over conventional soil remediation. Lastly, compost enhances water retention in soils helping to reduce flooding in our yards and streets.
In 2024, Westchester joined with 100+ Pumpkin Smash sites to divert pumpkins from making it into landfills. The event resulted in the composting of 326,000 pounds of pumpkins. This equates to a
reduction of 118 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere and the diverting of over 35,400 gallons from entering landfills.
Can’t make it during the Pumpkin Smash? Use your SBC yard waste bin to dispose of pumpkins, corn stalks, and hay bundles and it will be picked up during Westchester’s weekly curbside pickup.
If you have any questions, please email Commissioner Kari Roberg at kroberg@westchester-il.gov. The GROW commission generally meets on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm. Join us in striving for a green Village!