The Surprising Truth About Halloween Pumpkins
Language
Reading Level
Listen to Article
Every fall, Americans buy tens of millions of decorative pumpkins. Some are carved into spooky jack-o'-lanterns, while others are used simply for display. Unfortunately, the interest in these colorful gourds fades soon after Halloween. Experts estimate that over one billion pounds of pumpkins — more than 80 percent of the 1.3 billion pounds purchased annually — end up in landfills.
The situation is no different in other countries that celebrate Halloween. According to Pumpkins for the People, a community-based composting service in Washington, DC, over two billion pounds (907 million kg) of pumpkins are thrown away worldwide each year.
In addition to creating massive food waste, discarded pumpkins emit large amounts of methane as they rot in landfills. This greenhouse gas traps significantly more heat than carbon dioxide and is a major contributor to climate change.
Fortunately, there is an easy solution to this pollution problem. If the fruits were used as decor, scoop out the edible insides. Roasted pumpkin seeds make a nutritious and tasty snack. The flesh can be used to make a hearty soup, a creamy puree, or a delicious pie. Alternatively, you can donate the pumpkins to local farms or even zoos, where they can serve as feed for animals.
Sagging jack-o'-lanterns can be dropped off at a local compost collection center. Even better, check if your city or town hosts a pumpkin-smash party and have fun smashing them with friends! The best part? The remains will be collected and composted after the event.
You can also fill pumpkin shells with grains and leave them in the yard for birds, squirrels, and other garden critters. If your pumpkin is too far gone to salvage, bury it in your yard. It will naturally decompose and enrich the soil.
Have a safe and sustainable Halloween!
Resources: greenmatters.com, Hubbub.org, pumpkinsforthepeople.com
Get the Workbook for this article!
Workbook contains: Article, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking Questions, Vocabulary in Context (+ answers), Multiple Choice Quiz (+ answers), Parts of Speech Quiz (+ answers), Vocabulary Game (+ answers)Cite Article
Learn Keywords in this Article
38 Comments
tryuhfcr5t6ctr510 dayswow the pumpkins
elaynakise13 daysthis is the best story in the would am rite every one- elaynakise13 daysthis is so cool
troublemaker8715 daysI love carving pumpkins normally I'll take out the guts and put them off to the side then I carve the pumpkin and when I'm done I put all the guts and cut out pieces in a five gallon bucket with so leaves and other composting stuff like banana peels and apple cores
somyung1115 daysthose plant is going extinct
tiger12994516 dayssave the pumpkins people
crazychristine15 daysOkay, lets do it
leolover7216 dayssave the pumpkins!!
unicorncity31616 daysMost people didn't know that you could donate them. But, there are people who come around and collect the pumkins in cities that people are throwing away. They use them to cook and bake food for the poor or homeless people. There are even some people who know about this and put money, food, clothes, or even give plots of land to people, and they put this INSIDE OF THE PUMPKINS!! Super cool, right?
vegykiralory17 daysWow, I can't believe people who celebrate Halloween waste so many pumpkins, I mean come on I love pumpkins.
enigmaticreader17 daysNoted, didn’t know you could donate them
