A New Purpose for Your Pumpkins 

With the crisp autumn air and the crunch of leaves with each step, it can only mean one thing—fall is here! And as we all know, fall brings pumpkin everything: pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin soup, and even pumpkin decorations. Did you know that Canadians buy over 10 million pumpkins each year, with the bulk of that happening in October? What’s even more shocking is the fact that most of these pumpkins end up in the trash rather than being properly disposed of. To help reduce waste, we’ve outlined three ways you can repurpose your pumpkins this season. 

Pumpkins in wooden crates on a farm. 

Donate to a Local Farm  

One of the easiest ways to repurpose your pumpkins is by donating them to a local farm—after all, animals love pumpkins just as much as we do! A quick search in your community or online bulletin boards can point you to someone collecting pumpkins for farm animals. Chances are, there’s already a farm nearby accepting donations! 

A close-up of a pig eating a pumpkin. 

Compost 

If donating your pumpkins isn’t an option, composting is a great alternative. With landfills quickly filling up, composting organic waste like food and beverage products is an effective alternative that helps the environment.   

When organic waste is buried and cut off from air and light, it decomposes in the absence of oxygen and releases methane into the atmosphere – a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide.   

We specialize in repurposing food and beverage waste through Miller Waste’s green facility. By using anaerobic digestors, we are able to help reduce the amount of methane emissions put into the atmosphere by capturing the gas produced and transferring it to a combined heat and power generator, converting it into electricity for the local power grid.   

So, this fall, instead of placing your pumpkins into the garbage, put them in your local green bin for collection and take the first step in helping lower our greenhouse gas emissions.   

Miller Waste’s anaerobic digestors at their green facility. 

Create A Bird House 

Add some colour and life to your backyard by turning your old pumpkin into a bird feeder! Fill it with birdseed, hang it up, and watch as your yard becomes a popular spot for local birds. For a detailed guide on how to create this DIY project, click here.  

By finding creative ways to repurpose your pumpkins, you can help reduce waste and positively impact the environment. Whether you donate them to a local farm, compost them, or turn them into a fun bird feeder, your efforts contribute to a more sustainable fall season. Instead of tossing your pumpkins into the trash, try one of these simple solutions and do your part in keeping our planet a little greener.