Now that Halloween is over, you might have a slightly soggy jack-o'-lantern sitting on your porch. Don’t throw it away just yet — there’s a better way to get rid of your decomposing decorations.
🎃 Make pumpkin compost
There are a few options for keeping your pumpkins out of the landfill and returning them back to the ground to create some gourd-geous, rich soil.
- Register for the City of Asheville and Buncombe County’s free Food Scraps Drop-Off program. Complete the quick + easy registration process to receive a food scrap bin and find the drop-off location closest to you.
- Become a member of CompostAVL for curbside pickup twice a month — it’s as easy as pumpkin pie.
Just make sure to remove any candles, paint, or other decorations from your pumpkins before composting.
🍂 Take it or leaf it
You can dispose of leaves, pine needles, pinecones, and other small yard waste items with the help of the City of Asheville’s Sanitation Division. Just follow these simple steps:
- Gather materials in a biodegradable paper bag or rigid plastic container labeled “yard waste” — get the details on approved containers.
- Ensure that biodegradable bags weigh 25 lbs. or less and rigid plastic containers weigh 50 lbs. or less.
- Place your yard waste on the curb by 7 a.m. on Monday of your pickup week.
Pro tip: You can also turn your leftover leaves into lawn food. Add them to your compost bin or simply pile them up in a corner of your yard — by the end of winter, the pile will transform into nutrient-packed organic material for your garden.
