As Halloween festivities fade and residents prepare for the holidays, pumpkins pile up on porches and yards. Instead of tossing them in the trash, a sustainable solution is gaining traction: pumpkin compost bins.
This year, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 8, a compost bin will be available at Kauffman Park in Lakewood. Residents can drop off unwanted pumpkins to be repurposed into nutrient-rich compost, keeping the holiday season a bit greener. The bin is located in the parking lot nearest to Kauffman Park, at 15450 Detroit Ave., and is open for all residents to dispose of old pumpkins and gourds in an eco-friendly way.
“I think pumpkin composting is a great idea. It is a waste to throw pumpkins in the garbage when they have so many other uses in the environment,” said Lakewood mother Mary Burton. She has a large family with children ranging from young to old and Halloween traditions have always been held dear to them. “It is an annual tradition that we go to the pumpkin patch and carve pumpkins and roast the seeds,” Burton said. “When more residents hear about the program there will need to be more bins throughout the community.” She hopes that, over time, pumpkin composting could become a community tradition, encouraging neighbors to work together to help the environment.
The pumpkin compost bin accepts pumpkins, gourds, and jack-o’-lanterns as long as all decorations are removed beforehand. This includes removing any candles, paint, stickers, and markers. The bins are for pumpkins only, meaning no other organic waste, plastic bags, or trash. The program’s guidelines help ensure the materials will break down into compost efficiently.
Many residents have already taken advantage of the waste disposal units, tossing their past-due pumpkins in the growing pile. “I think it’s a good way to repurpose the pumpkins, and I think if we don’t use them, then pumpkins are just going to waste,” LHS senior Dawson Rossen said. He found dropping off old pumpkins to be very easy, and he was pleasantly surprised with the amount of crops already in the bin.
The sustainable project aims to keep pumpkins out of landfills, where any benefit from decomposition is forever locked behind an impermeable barrier. It also aims to reduce greenhouse gasses by collecting unwanted pumpkins. When broken down, pumpkins provide an excellent nutrient boost for gardens and landscaping efforts. Lakewood is a vibrant community, and these benefits align with Lakewood’s commitment to environmental initiatives and community involvement.
The City of Lakewood already offers additional services for residents interested in reducing waste and enriching their gardens. For example, residents can purchase compost bins through Cuyahoga Recycles or at the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District at 4750 E. 131 St. in Garfield Heights. Another initiative is the city’s focus on maintaining and expanding tree canopies in Lakewood neighborhoods. This project ensures as many homes and buildings as possible are shaded by trees, which provides cooler, greener spaces and reduces energy costs for residents during the summer. If a tree is diseased or dies, Lakewood replaces it with a sapling to continue the cooling benefits and natural aesthetic of tree-lined streets.
For many families, pumpkin composting could be a gateway into more sustainable practices, like regular composting and gardening. Lakewood’s community gardens are constantly active, with volunteers planting and maintaining crops that benefit local neighborhoods. Composting can provide valuable nutrients to these gardens and support their growth. Composting is a learning experience that teaches youth and adults to value environmental protection and keeping our planet green.
“Composting always benefits the community, as long as it is done properly, and Lakewood seems to do that stuff properly,” Lakewood resident Timothy Lange states. Lange also has a compost bin at home, and he believes it is an easy way to help the environment.
Several additional drop-off sites are available for pumpkin composting throughout Cuyahoga County, including Beachwood Public Works, Brecksville Service Department, City Park in Mayfield Heights, the University Heights Library, and the Westlake Police Department. Residents can find a complete list of drop-off locations here.
The Cuyahoga County pumpkin compost bins provide the community with a unique opportunity to support sustainability and environmental protection. So, when it’s time to scratch the spooky decorations, consider utilizing these bins. Just a reminder: They will be leaving on Nov. 8!
