The Atlantic recently estimated that over one billion pounds of pumpkin are left to rot in landfills each year in the United States. The problem is that pumpkins, when left to rot in landfills, release methane gas into the atmosphere.
How much methane does a pumpkin produce?
Of the 2 billion pumpkins produced, it is estimated that 1.3 billion ended up in landfill (975 MILLION pounds!) where every 100 pounds will generate about 8.3 pounds of methane, a very potent greenhouse gas.
How do pumpkins affect the environment?
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.
What can you do with rotten pumpkins?
What to Do With Rotten Pumpkins
- Create Compost: Pumpkins can be easily added to a compost pile.
- Make an Easy Bird Feeder: Cut a carved pumpkin into halves, fill each one with birdseed and you have an impromptu bird feeder.
How wasteful are pumpkins?
Over 18,000 tonnes of edible pumpkin end up in landfill sites every year – the equivalent of 1500 double decker buses, or 360 million portions of pumpkin pie. Even worse than the needless waste of money is the waste of nutritious food.
Do pumpkins emit methane gas?
The problem is that pumpkins, when left to rot in landfills, release methane gas into the atmosphere. Methane, the same gas released from motor vehicles and cow flatulence, accounts for 20% of global emissions, ranking it the second most abundant greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide.
Why should you not throw away pumpkins?
Pumpkins will eventually break down and enrich the soil, which can then help improve the health of the flowers and plants in your garden.
How long does it take for a pumpkin to decompose in a landfill?
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. As food waste like pumpkins rot away, it also releases methane gas, a climate change driver 30x more potent than CO2.
Are pumpkins environmentally friendly?
Pumpkin production is relatively sustainable since there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used.
What happens to pumpkins in landfills?
Typically, in a landfill, pumpkins get buried and rot in an environment that lacks oxygen, which creates the potent greenhouse gas methane.
Is rotting pumpkin toxic?
Although some species may tolerate less-than-fresh pumpkins, it is important to not feed spoiled or rotting pumpkins due to risk of illness or disease transmission. Those pumpkins should also be safely disposed of instead of fed to animals.
Is it OK to throw pumpkins in the woods?
Tossing your pumpkins into a forest preserve after Halloween is not only a bad idea, in terms of how it affects wildlife, it’s also illegal and you could be ticketed. The best alternative is to compost your pumpkins, which also keeps them out of the landfills.
Can animals eat rotten pumpkin?
Composting is the best way to discard your pumpkins, but they’re safe for animals to eat as long as they aren’t rotting or have chemicals on them. What do you do with your pumpkin after Halloween?
How many pumpkins end up in landfills?
1.3 billion pounds
It turns out this is pretty standard in the United States. The U.S. Department of Energy reported that we grow about 2 billion pounds of pumpkins every year, and a shocking 1.3 billion pounds end up in landfills, producing potent methane gas.
How do you sustainably get rid of pumpkins?
8 Eco Friendly Ways To Dispose Of Your Halloween Pumpkins
- Let local wildlife have it.
- Feed it to chickens.
- Compost it.
- Bury it.
- Harvest the seeds.
- Make a pumpkin puree.
- Make a pumpkin planter.
- Keep it a little longer.
Is carving pumpkins wasteful?
Of those, 95% are used at Halloween and then thrown away – creating 18,000 tonnes of food waste. It’s a similar story in the United States, where most of the 900,000 tonnes of pumpkin produced annually will be trashed, rather than used as food or composted.
Are Halloween pumpkins bad for the environment?
Decomposing pumpkins emit greenhouse gas with 20x the warming effect of carbon dioxide. The trouble with throwing away pumpkins is that as they decompose, they emit methane. This greenhouse gas is stronger than carbon dioxide, and has a far more significant impact on global warming.
Do pumpkins decompose?
How long does it take for pumpkins to decompose? Whole pumpkins that haven’t been cut or carved take about 8 to 12 weeks to start decomposing after they are fully grown. What is this? Once you cut a pumpkin up, it will take about 5 to 10 days to start to rot in a compost pile.
Do pumpkins absorb toxins from soil?
New research shows that pumpkins can clean up soil contaminated with DDT and other pollutants.
Should you leave your pumpkins out for wildlife?
Lots of different animals can eat pumpkins and it’s a great idea to pop them outside after they’ve had their Halloween use! Your garden squirrels, birds, foxes and maybe even badgers all can eat and will eat your leftover pumpkins, just ensure that they are chopped up ready to go outside.
What do you do with pumpkins after Halloween for animals?
How to Recycle Pumpkins for Birds and Wildlife
- Share Pumpkin Seeds with Birds. Many people roast and eat pumpkin seeds themselves, but you can also share them with birds.
- Turn Your Pumpkin into a Bird Feeder.
- Share Pumpkins with Butterflies.
- Cut Up Pumpkins for Wildlife.
- Feed Carved Pumpkins to Chickens.