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Clark County, Life, News When the time comes to remove the pumpkins adorning porches and jack-o’-lanterns illuminating stoops, Clark County Public Health encourages residents to give gourds new life as compost rather than sending them to the landfill.
Each year after Halloween, about 60% of purchased pumpkins end up in landfills across the United States. In landfills, pumpkins and other organic waste produce methane, a greenhouse gas at least 28 times as potent as carbon dioxide.
- Free drop off: Take leftover pumpkins to a We Compost Community Hub for free composting. Community hubs are open to all residents and accept all food scraps (not just pumpkins). Find community hub locations on the We Compost webpage at clarkgreenneighbors.org/we-compost.
- Curbside compost: Clark County residents with curbside yard debris service can put pumpkins in their carts in October and November. Residents in the cities of Vancouver and Ridgefield who have curbside organics service can place pumpkins in their carts any time during the year.
- Backyard compost: Chop pumpkins into smaller pieces and put them in backyard compost bins or piles. Not yet composting at home but want to learn? Clark County’s Composter Recycler program offers free workshops and composting resources. Visit the Composter Recycler website at clarkcountycomposts.org to learn more.
