Put Halloween waste in its place: don’t let it haunt the landfill

As you prepare for Halloween, make a plan for what happens once the costumes come off, the candy is gone and your pumpkin has outlived its spooky charm.

“Composting your old Jack-o'-lantern is an easy way to reduce waste and create a valuable resource for your garden,” says Cynthia Coates, Solid Waste Services Supervisor. “Pumpkins are rich in nutrients and break down quickly in backyard composters, especially when chopped into smaller pieces and mixed with dry leaves. By spring, you'll have nutrient-rich compost ready to use in your yard.”

If you don't compost at home, unpainted pumpkins can still avoid the landfill. Simply place them in your green-lidded curbside yard waste cart (remove candles and non-organic decorations first). Plus, yard waste collection continues through to the end of December, giving residents plenty of time to dispose of pumpkins properly.

Looking for ways to make the most of your pumpkin before composting it? Love Food Hate Waste Canada offers helpful tips for enjoying pumpkins to their fullest.

And while candy may disappear quickly, the plastic wrappers will last (in the landfill) for much longer. Candy wrappers and other flexible plastic packaging don’t belong in your curbside garbage or recycling cart. Instead, collect it all and bundle them with other flexible plastics, such as bread bags, overwrap and zipper bags, and either place them at the curb in your pink recycling box or return them to a depot for recycling. Visit recyclebc.ca/centralokanagan for all you need to know about paper, plastic and packaging recycling in the region.

By composting pumpkins and properly recycling flexible plastics, residents can help keep valuable materials out of the landfill and support a cleaner, more circular economy.

For more information on garbage or yard waste please visit rdco.com/wastereduction, email wastereduction@rdco.com, or call 250-469-6250.