Roughly 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins end up in landfills after Halloween. While this seems harmless, organic waste like pumpkins cannot decompose effectively in landfills without releasing toxic methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

To fix the issue, when it comes to our purchases, we need to move from a linear consumer mindset (purchase-use-dispose) to a circular one: purchase-use-repurpose or reuse.

Here are three actions you can take to solve the post-Halloween pumpkin problem:

• Cook. If your pumpkin is still in good, food safe condition, roast it and use it to create a plethora of delicious sweet and savory dishes. Here are 55 pumpkin recipe ideas to get you started.
• Compost. Composting your pumpkins helps create nutrient-rich soil and keeps more waste out of the landfills. Many localities throughout the U.S. have pumpkin smashing events geared toward composting or you can find a compost pick-up service in your area.
• Contact a Farm. Local farmers and animal sanctuaries will use leftover pumpkins to feed pigs and other animals. Use the interactive map on the Pumpkin for Pigs website to find farmers in your area who want pumpkins. Some farms even accept other items for composting, including fruits, vegetables, acorns and even Christmas trees.

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