Don't Trash It! Smash It!

Today is the annual Pumpkin Smash in Chicago and it is a fun way to recycle those pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns in a safe, good-for-our-planet way that is fun too!

Last year over 240 tons of pumpkins were diverted from our area landfills which is a great thing because organic material, like pumpkins and other food waste, create two things when put into a landfill - methane gas emissions and leachate (think gross, smelly liquid) which are both horrible for our environment.

If you can compost your pumpkin at home - go for it! If you don't have a compost bin or service at home, you can split open your pumpkin and leave it in the yard where the soil will benefit from the water and nutrients and animals can use it as food. If you want to avoid inviting creatures into your yard for a fall harvest feast off of your old pumpkin (yes, I am talking about those rats!) then the annual Pumpkin Smash is the event for you!

Just remove any candles and embellishments from your pumpkins (acrylic paint is fine if you have a painted pumpkin) and show up on November 5th to make your contribution to the compost pile. Some locations may have a bit of fun added to their event - may be a target on the bin for ultimate pumpkin chucking fun, or games you can play and even tools to help smash up the gourds - each one is separately organized so no two are alike! Be sure to confirm hours with each location as they may vary.

Here are a few Chicago locations where you can find a Pumpkin Smash event in 2025