Just like all food waste, pumpkins can go in your green organics bin, where they will be taken to a local facility and turned into organic compost! 

Here are some tips for composting and reusing your pumpkin:

1. All parts of the pumpkin can go in the green bin

Pumpkin seeds, pulp, stem and flesh can all go in the green bin. When you carve pumpkins, try lining the surface with a reusable tablecloth to prevent mess! If you line the table with paper, like newspaper or paper bags, you can make clean up easy by placing the entire scraps in the green bin, including the dirty paper. 

2. When carving, save the seeds and bake them in the oven for a healthy snack!

Soak, rinse and dry the seeds, toss with oil and seasonings, then roast them at 350 for 20-30 minutes.

3. Do not use paint on your pumpkin. If you do use paint, remove the painted parts before composting (a strong vegetable peeler works well). 

 Paints, even water-based paints, are a chemical that contaminates the compost at our local facilities. Same goes for glues, tapes, glitter, stickers, and anything else that is not organic waste. 

4. Mold is okay!

When your pumpkin sits on the porch for too long and starts to get soggy or moldy, that's okay to put in the green bin. The mold is just nature taking its course, and it will break down just as well at the compost facility. For those pumpkins that are starting to look and smell like they're ready to go, putting them in a paper bag to transport it to the green bin can help to minimize mess. 

5. Smash your pumpkin! 

Did you know the City of San Luis Obispo hosts an annual Pumpkin Smash on November 1st? Bring your pumpkin to smash, and it will be composted. At the event will be a free compost giveaway with compost from Kompogas, food trucks, lawn games and more. Learn more from the City of San Luis Obispo here. 

6. Roast and eat your pumpkin. 

Did you know all varieties of pumpkin are edible? You don't want to eat carved jack-o-lanterns after they've been sitting out on the porch, but whole pumpkins can be roasted in the oven to be used in a delicious soup, puree or baked goods. Look for Cinderella or Sugar Pumpkins especially!