Waste Free Greenwich To Host 2nd Annual 'Great Pumpkin Rescue'

GREENWICH, CT — Waste Free Greenwich will host its second annual Great Pumpkin Rescue on Nov. 18 which aims to collect pumpkins for composting and raise awareness about food waste in the community.

The free, family-friendly event will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Living Hope Community Church in Old Greenwich. It's sponsored by Curbside Compost.

Last year the Great Pumpkin Rescue diverted over 2,000 pounds of pumpkins from the waste stream.

There will also be a pumpkin toss and lawn games, including pumpkin bowling, spooky ring toss, pumpkin bean bag toss and gourd tic tac toe. Attendees can earn raffle tickets for a chance to win prizes to green their home.

The Waste Free Greenwich team will also conduct a compost demonstration to share tips about backyard composting and other ways to cut food waste.

Jack-o-lanterns, pumpkins and gourds will be accepted. No paint, glitter, googly eyes or candles will be allowed; these decorative details will contaminate the compost when processed. No other food scraps or other organic material can be dropped off at the event.

According to Waste Free Greenwich, more than 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins are sent to incinerators and landfills annually in the U.S.

Diverting this material from incineration cuts pollution generated by burning waste, which negatively impacts public health, Waste Free Greenwich said in a news release. When left to decompose in a landfill, that food waste produces methane, a greenhouse gas that is far more potent than carbon dioxide.

Pumpkins and gourds are 90 percent water and are full of nutrients. Composting this organic material captures these nutrients and water, creating a soil amendment to benefit parks, gardens and farms.

If you can’t join The Great Pumpkin Rescue, bring your pumpkins and gourds for composting to the designated drop area near the yard waste section at the Holly Hill Resource Recovery Facility during hours of operation.

Alternatively, remove the seeds and place them in a backyard composter. They can also be left in your yard for animals to enjoy. Do not put pumpkins in the streets; only leaves should be collected with the town’s Leaf Collection Program.