St. Charles Natural Resources Commission to host annual Pumpkin Smash Nov. 7

The St. Charles Natural Resources Commission will host its annual community Pumpkin Smash from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 7, at the public works facility, 1405 S. Seventh Ave. in St. Charles.

Residents can “go green” after Halloween by giving their pumpkins a second life through composting. This year’s event has expanded beyond a traditional drive-through drop-off, offering attendees the opportunity to park, get out of their vehicles and smash pumpkins at a designated target.

The family-friendly event will feature music and activities for children, as well as fresh doughnuts and cider made on-site and available for purchase.

Before bringing pumpkins to the event, residents are asked to remove all non-biodegradable decorations, including candles and stickers. These items can contaminate the organic materials collected for composting.

The annual Pumpkin Smash provides a fun, environmentally friendly way to divert pumpkins from the landfill and support composting efforts in the community.

For more information, visit stcharlesil.gov.