Naperville Pumpkin Smash event to compost jack-o'-lanterns Nov. 3

Posted October 09, 2018 11:00 pm

Submitted by Naperville Park District

What happens to the thousands of jack-o-lanterns on front porches once Halloween is over?

According to SCARCE, a local environmental organization, composting those pumpkins keeps waste out of the landfill, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and creates a natural fertilizer for our soil.

The Naperville Park District is partnering with SCARCE to offer the 2018 Pumpkin Smash on Satuday, Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots, located at 811 S. West St.

Drop off your Halloween pumpkin at this free event, where it will be weighed, counted and then smashed directly into the soil at the garden plots, adding nutrients for next year's growing season.

Please remove candles and decorations before dropping off your pumpkin.

At the pilot event in 2017, more than 1,000 pounds of pumpkins were composted, in spite of rainy weather.

Volunteers ages 12 to adult are needed to help weigh, count and smash pumpkins.

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