Pumpkin Smashes Offer Fun with a Lesson on Sustainability

A Sustainable Solution for Leftover Decorative Pumpkins

Unsure what to do with your leftover decorative pumpkins or jack-o-lanterns from the Halloween season? Several pumpkin smashes are happening across the Chicago area on Saturday, offering a fun and sustainable way to dispose of them.

Smashing Pumpkins for a Good Cause

At the pumpkin smashes, participants smash pumpkins and throw them into a compost container. No time to smash your own? Residents can also stop by and drop their pumpkins off, letting others do the work. It’s a fun activity for families, organizers say, but it’s also a way to learn about composting and sustainability.

Kay McKeen, SCARCE Founder, Discusses the Importance of Composting

Kay McKeen is the founder and executive director of SCARCE, an Illinois-based organization that promotes sustainability and conservation. At this point in the fall season, compost facilities are often getting dry leaves, but for composting to be successful there needs to be a mix of wet and dry materials. Pumpkins are 90% water, making them a perfect item to throw into the compost heap. Composting also helps curb the decomposition of pumpkins into methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Learning About Composting at the Smashes

At the smashes, participants learn about the basics of composting, such as the need to remove contaminants like stickers from food. For pumpkins, that means removing googly eyes and taking out candles from carved ones. "We’re teaching our goal of reducing contaminants in food scrap composting, but we’re doing it in a family fun way," McKeen said.

Andersonville Chamber of Commerce Hosts a Pumpkin Smash

Charlie Wein, director of marketing and communications for the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber has hosted or sponsored pumpkin smashes for the past few years, drawing hundreds of attendees. This year, the event will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at 6040 N. Clark.

A Lesson Beyond Pumpkins

So many people have leftover pumpkins at this time of year and assume they decompose on their own since it’s an organic material, said Wein. Events like this offer lessons they can take beyond pumpkins and apply to other foods. "And then of course it’s just fun," Wein added. "How many times in the year do you get to sort of do something like that that is also eco-friendly and sustainable?"

Finding a Pumpkin Smash Near You

For a list of all pumpkin smashes in the area this weekend, visit scarce.org/pumpkins.

Conclusion

The pumpkin smashes are not only a fun activity, but also an educational event that teaches the importance of composting and sustainability. By participating in the event, residents can make a positive impact on the environment and learn valuable lessons about reducing waste and living more sustainably.

FAQs

• When is the pumpkin smash?
  • The event will be held on Saturday, date and time to be specified.
• Where can I find a pumpkin smash?
  • Visit scarce.org/pumpkins for a list of all pumpkin smashes in the area.
• What do I need to do to prepare for the event?
  • Remove contaminants like stickers, googly eyes, and candles from your pumpkin, and bring it to the designated location.
• Why is composting important?
  • Composting helps reduce waste, reduces methane production, and creates nutrient-rich soil for gardens.