11 Ways to Upcycle Your Pumpkins

One of the biggest sources of Halloween waste? Pumpkins! According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 1.3 billion pounds of them end up in landfills across the country.

Better Things to Do with Pumpkins than Throwing Them in the Trash

Pre-Halloween Prepping

It is important to make sure the pumpkin has not been treated with anything that could be toxic, like bleach, which is a popular method to keep jack-o’-lanterns orange and shiny throughout the season.

Instead of bleach, you can add a cup of vinegar to a full kitchen sink or basin of water. Put the pumpkin in the solution and let it soak for 10 minutes on each side. Then rinse it off, dry it, and it’s ready for a fall display that will last all season.

You can also cover any scrapes or cuts in the gourd’s skin with petroleum jelly to keep bugs and bacteria from getting in and creating areas of rot.

Not only is this a more environmentally friendly way to preserve a pumpkin, but it will also then be safe for animals to eat.

Post-Halloween Disposal

Here are eleven different ways to recycle, reuse, and repurpose everyone’s favorite squash.

1. Eat The Seeds. Roast, salt, throw a little olive oil on them and enjoy this eco-friendly, yummy treat.

2. Make Pumpkin Puree. Forget the canned stuff at the store. Whip up some homemade puree and get ready for Thanksgiving.

3. Cook Pumpkin Soup. Combine your puree with yummy ingredients like chicken stock, salt, pepper, onion, garlic, parsley, and cream.

4. Make Veggie Stock. Keep your pumpkin’s stringy guts! Their insides, along with other veggies, make yummy veggie stock.

5. Reuse For Thanksgiving Decor. Repurpose your uncut pumpkins as Thanksgiving decorations. They look great inside and outside the home.

6. Use The Puree For A Natural Facial. Take your pumpkin puree and add honey, coconut oil, or whole milk for a rejuvenating facial cream.

7. Make Your Own Pumpkin Spice Latte. Combine pumpkin puree, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, milk, and a touch of sugar and espresso for a drink that’s anything but basic.

8. Bake Pumpkin Bread. Yummy and seasonal and makes your house smell amazing.

9. Compost! Add your Jack-O-Lanterns to your compost bin. They’ll give your garden some rich nutrients.

10. Donate To A Food Pantry. Give unwanted pumpkins to your local food bank. It’ll serve your community in more ways than one.

11. Share with Livestock. Pumpkins contain between 10 and 14 percent crude protein, making them a nutritious snack for livestock and poultry.