What happens to the thousands of jack-o-lanterns on front porches once Halloween is over? According to SCARCE, an environmental organization in DuPage County, 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 will be a partner with SCARCE to offer the 2018 Pumpkin Smash from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 3 at the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots, 811 S. West Street. Halloween pumpkins can be dropped off at this free event, where it will be weighed, counted, and smashed directly into the soil at the Garden Plots to add nutrients for next year’s growing season. Please remove candles and decorations.
At the pilot event in 2017, more than 1,000 pounds of pumpkins were composted, in spite of rain.
Volunteers ages 12 to adult are needed to help weigh, count, and smash pumpkins. Registration online is at www.napervilleparks.org/volunteer.
—Naperville Park District