Over a billion pounds of Halloween pumpkins wasted annually, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental concerns.

Over a billion pounds of pumpkins end up in landfills after Halloween, according to H2 News. In the US alone, an estimated 1.3 billion pounds ends up with pumpkins. This waste is often overlooked as organic waste does not decompose as easily as expected. Pumpkin waste from Halloween releases the greenhouse gas (GHG), methane gas, which is 25 times more potent at trapping heat in the atmosphere. The water, energy and labor used to grow and distribute the pumpkins is also wasted. Donating pumpkins to zoos or farms reduces waste and saves money on animal feed. Other ways to divert pumpkin waste from landfill include composting them at home or putting them out for organics recycling or composting pickup.