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Pumpkins at Halloween

1. Use the whole of your pumpkin.

There are a few tips and tricks to make sure you reduce waste during Halloween. This includes not letting your pumpkin go to waste.

  • You could use any leaves in a stew, soup or even Sautee them.
  • You could roast the seeds for a tasty treat or to make bread/cake.
  • Leave the skin on to make pumpkin wedges
  • Add the flesh to a vegetable stock
  • Fry up the stems (only do this if the pumpkin is young and home grown)
  • You could also use the flesh for all of the above or even curries, as this part of the pumpkin can be roasted in chunks or turned into puree to add to baked delights, ice cream or even coffee!

If you’re lighting your pumpkin with a wax candle, it might not be safe to use the pumpkin flesh. Consider putting foil around it to catch the hot wax, or use a battery-operated light instead, which are also safer for children. To see how to recycle the batteries after use follow this link, enter your postcode, and then search for “batteries” in the Waste wizard. 

Eat your pumpkin and join the pumpkin rescue 

2. Repurpose your pumpkin

Another handy way of ensuring your pumpkin doesn’t go to waste, is repurposing it. If you fancy trying your hand at some DIY this month, click here for 8 clever ideas on what to do with a pumpkin after Halloween.

3. Grow new pumpkins

Now, you may be wondering what to do with the seeds from your pumpkin, and we have a secret we’re just begging to tell you! Pumpkins are super easy to grow. Maybe you want to save some money next year and grow your own, or maybe you fancy turning over a bit of a profit providing next years crop. Learn more about how to grow and care for pumpkins. 

Don’t worry if you can’t plant straight away, when properly stored, did you know the seeds can last up to 6 years! Learn more about how to harvest and store pumpkin seeds.

4. Properly dispose of your pumpkin

If none of these options take your fancy, you need to properly dispose of your pumpkin. There are a few ways to go about doing this but remember: don't put them in your general rubbish bin.

  • Food waste recycling - chop your used pumpkin and put it in your food waste recycling caddy 
  • Compost it - again, chp it up and put it in your compost bin, if you have one.