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 — the City of Columbus and surrounding suburbs are hosting pumpkin drop-offs to encourage composting and recycling. Plus, here’s what to do with the fall leaves in your yard.
🎃 How to make some pumpkin compost
Save More Than Food, a Central Ohio food waste initiative, reports that “41 billion gallons of water are used every year to grow and make food that is never eaten in our community.”
You can help change that by dropping off your pumpkins, gourds, or carved jack o’lanterns at collection locations to be composted.
Browse drop-off locations for Columbus and other suburbs like Grove City, Grandview, and New Albany.
Pro tip: Pumpkins that have been drawn on or painted won’t be accepted.
🍁 Take it or leaf it
Fall is the biggest season for yard waste, but that doesn’t have to always be the case — there are simple steps to easily recycle leaves, sticks, grass clippings, and shrubbery.
- Place all organic recyclables in biodegradable paper bags marked with “yard waste.”
- Ensure each bag is no more than 50 lbs.
- Look up your city collection day or call (614) 645-3111 to find out.
- Place bags on the curb — there’s no limit to the number of bags a household can recycle.
