Keeping pumpkins out of the landfill: Compost Winnipeg

Winnipeggers recycled their leftover pumpkins from Halloween by dropping them off a mall parkade Sunday.

Dropping and crushing – that was one of the methods Winnipeggers chose to close their Halloween weekend.

On Sunday, Compost Winnipeg hosted its fifth annual pumpkin drop at CF Polo Park. The organization brought a collection truck to the mall’s parkade, then asked Winnipeggers to gather at the second level of parkade to throw their pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns to the truck.

“This year we’re doing very well. We’re incredibly busy, we in the first two hours collected over a thousand pumpkins more than last year,” event coordinator Karrie Blackburn said. “This year we’ve been seeing a lot more carved pumpkins without any contaminants on it.”

Blackburn explained the collected pumpkins will be sent to three locations based on its condition. If fit for human consumption, pumpkins will be sent to Leftovers Foundation so that it can be made into food. Little Red Barn Micro Sanctuary will receive a truck of pumpkins for its animals. Others will be sent to Lawn Stylists for compost.

“If you missed today’s event, don’t worry. There are still options to compost your pumpkin. You can put it in your backyard bin to keep it out of the landfill, or you can send it to the City of Winnipeg leaf and yard waste,” she added.

“We have three official sites: one at Dakota Community Centre, another at Lindenwood Community Centre, and the last at Valley Gardens Community Centre, where you can bring your pumpkins as well.

“Ultimately, keep those pumpkins out of the landfill.”

Blackburn said as of 1 p.m. Sunday, about 3,000 kg of pumpkins were collected.