One of my family's favorite post-Halloween traditions is taking our jack o' lanterns to the local Pumpkin Smash hosted by SCARCE to be safely recycled back into nature.
By bringing your pumpkin to be composted, it avoids landfill greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing organics (currently, landfills are the 3rd largest producers of methane in the U.S.!), and it produces a useful, nutrient-dense soil amendment, and pumpkins are 90% water, which is great for our soil!
Since 2014, SCARCE has helped compost over 1,240 tons of pumpkins!!
Some stats from 2023:
- 95 Pumpkin Smash sites
- Composted over 241 tons of pumpkins (that’s 482,000 lbs!)
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 173.34 tons of CO2e
- Diverted 51,828 gallons of water from landfills
This year's Pumpkin Smash events will be held on November 2, 2024 and November 9, 2024.
Looking for a local spot to bring your pumpkins? Here are some nearby places that are hosting a Pumpkin Smash collection drive. Some locations have additional events, other recycling collection, or fun activities, so check with each location!
Pro tip: Make sure to remove any decorations or embellishments first!
Butterfield Park District
21W730 Butterfield Rd, Lombard, IL 60148
Sponsored by: Republic Service
Hours: Sat, Nov 2nd, 11 AM - 1 PM
Glen Ellyn – Village Green Community Garden Plots
130 S. Lambert Road Glen Ellyn Illinois 60137
Sponsored By: Glen Ellyn Park District
Hours: Sat, Nov 2nd 9AM - 11AM
New Hope United Methodist Church
643 E Washington St. West Chicago IL 60185
Sponsored By: New Hope United Methodist Church
Hours: Sat, Nov 2nd 9am to 1pm
Ross Ferraro Town Center
960 N. Gary Ave, Carol Stream, IL 60188
Sponsored By: SCARCE
Hours: Sat, Nov 2nd 9am-12pm
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
393 N Main St Glen Ellyn Illinois 60137
Sponsored By: St. Mark's Glen Ellyn, Hillside Parking Lot
Hours: Sat, Nov 2nd 9am-12pm
Wheaton Commuter Parking Lot #9
Liberty & Carlton Streets Wheaton Illinois 60187
Sponsored By: Wheaton Environmental Improvement & SCARCE
Hours: Sat, Nov 2nd 9am-12pm
Winfield Paint, Paper, & Pumpkin Recycling Event
Metra Parking lot next to Winfield Village Hall
Sponsored by: SBC Waste Solutions
Hours: Sat, Nov 2nd 8am-11am
Lombard Common
433 E St. Charles Road Lombard Illinois 60148
Sponsored By: Lombard Junior Women's Club, Lombard Park District, Kiwanis Club
Hours: Sat, Nov 9th 9am-12pm
Lisle Pumpkin Recycling Event
Village Hall 925 Burlington Ave, Lisle, IL 60532
Sponsored By: Village of Lisle
Hours: Sat, Nov 9th 9am-12pm
You can find the complete list of Pumpkin Smash locations in Illinois by clicking HERE.
Looking for some more Pumpkin Smash fun?
