Decorate now, recycle later. 

Fall is the pumpkin’s time to shine, but what happens when it is time to say goodbye to the short-lived Jack-o-lanterns? Green your Halloween by recycling pumpkins into compost at a free, outdoor Pumpkin Smash offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 9 at Disney II Magnet School in Chicago. 

No cost or registration is required to attend. The event is possible with the support of the City of Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation. For questions, contact Sarah Batka, local Cook County event program coordinator, at sbatka@illinois.edu, 217-300-8636.

Find the full list of Extension Pumpkin Smash events happening across the state in early November at go.illinois.edu/PumpkinSmash. 

About Pumpkin Smash

Pumpkins are an organic waste that produces the potent greenhouse gas methane as they decompose without oxygen in landfills. These decaying pumpkins also leach water that filters through the trash piles and pollutes nearby waterways. 

Since 2019, when Illinois Extension hosted its first Pumpkin Smash, over 50 tons of compostable waste have been kept out of landfills.

This project is done in collaboration with SCARCE, an Illinois environmental non-profit that started Pumpkin Smashes in 2014. Since then, the efforts have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 926 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and have diverted over 269,000 gallons of water from landfills. Find a full map of Pumpkin Smashes on their website at SCARCE.org/Pumpkins.

Pumpkin Smash Instructions

1. Find a smash event site near you by checking out the calendar at go.illinois.edu/PumpkinSmash or SCARCE.org/Pumpkins. 
2. Collect pumpkins from the home, neighborhood, school, or workplace.
3. Remove candles, ribbons, paint, and any other non-organic materials.
4. Drop off pumpkins at a smash site on the date and time of the specific event. Each site may vary with the methods of smashing or depositing pumpkins available.
5. The pumpkins are transported to a composting facility following the event. 

Those who cannot attend a smash event may still be able to compost through their local trash provider, private service, or by starting a compost pile. Properly composted pumpkins do not produce methane and contribute to soil health. Learn how to get started composting at extension.illinois.edu/compost.