Courtenay residents, pumpkins will be accepted in yard waste containers with regular curbside yard waste pickup the week of November 6 to 10. Find out more about Yard Waste.

 

Via the Comox Valley Regional District:

How to Safely Dispose of your Pumpkin after Halloween

Comox Strathcona Waste Management is reminding residents of the Comox Valley Regional District and the Strathcona Regional District to dispose of their pumpkins in an environmentally responsible manner this Halloween.

When a pumpkin ends up in the landfill it does not break down as it would in a compost pile. The pumpkins decompose without oxygen, producing leachate and methane gas which is harmful to the environment.

You can be part of the solution and keep your pumpkin out of the landfill by using one of the following options:

Residents of Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland

Place your pumpkin on the curb within your yard waste or kitchen scraps container. Pumpkins will be collected during regular scheduled pick-up days during the week of November 6 to 10.

Residents of Campbell River

Attend the 11th annual Pumpkin Smash at Strathcona Gardens Recreation Complex. This is a free, fun-filled family event which keeps thousands of kilograms of pumpkin out of our landfills.  These smashed pumpkins will become compost instead of harmful waste. Participants are reminded to remove all objects such as wax, candles and tea lights from their pumpkins prior to smashing. Please note that Pumpkins with spray paint will not be accepted for disposal.

Event Details

Date:  Saturday, November 4 and Sunday, November 5, 2017
Time:  11 am to 3 pm
Location:  Strathcona Gardens recreation complex, 225 S. Dogwood, Campbell River
Cost: Free. Donations of non-perishable food items for the Campbell River food bank are gladly accepted.

Other ways to dispose of Halloween pumpkins

There are some other ways that you can help keep your pumpkins out of the trash. Chop them up into thumb-sized pieces and put the pieces into a backyard composter.  Or put pieces of pumpkin in a vermicomposting bin (a kitchen-based worm bin) that will yield nutrient-rich compost which can be used to grow next year’s pumpkins.

For more information on composting and other solid waste programs, visit www.cswm.ca/composting

About Comox Strathcona Waste Management
The Comox Strathcona Waste Management (CSWM) service is an extended function of the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) and is responsible for two regional waste management centres that serve the Comox Valley and Campbell River, as well as a range of transfer stations and smaller waste-handling and recycling facilities for the electoral areas of the CVRD and the Strathcona Regional District. The CSWM service manages over 100,000 tonnes of waste and recycled material and oversees a number of diversion and education programs.