From carving spooky faces to baking seasonal treats, pumpkins are the star of many fall traditions. As fall festivities wind down, don’t just toss them out!
Instead of sending your pumpkins to the landfill, carve out a more sustainable solution. Take advantage of composting opportunities in Overland Park throughout November and help squash the waste!
Why compost?
When left in landfills, pumpkins can “haunt” the environment. Oxygen-deficient environments like landfills, rely on anaerobic bacteria to break down pumpkins and other organic matter, producing harmful methane gas in the process.
When composted, pumpkins break down in the presence of oxygen, encouraging the growth of aerobic bacteria, which efficiently decomposes organic materials without producing harmful gases.
Drop off your pumpkins at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens from Nov. 1-23 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in the east parking lot or at the Farmers’ Market on Nov. 2, 9, 16 and 23 between 8 a.m. and noon.
By composting your pumpkins, you’re contributing to a cleaner community and supporting a greener future. For more details on pumpkin composting, visit opkansas.org/PumpkinComposting.