Pigs Love Pumpkins
Who knew? It turns out that pigs, goats, and many farm animals enjoy pumpkins and gourds as a special snack!
Pumpkins for Pigs was formed because a farmer’s pigs enjoyed eating pumpkins, and she knew that many pumpkins and other Halloween decorations were wasted after the holiday was over. It became her mission to reduce food waste in communities by diverting viable foodstuffs including pumpkins to farms, animal sanctuaries, and rescues for feed or compost. What started in Loudoun County quickly spread to 44 states and Canada. Check PumpkinsforPigs.org to learn where to donate pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks, and other items.
Other organizations are also hopping on the hay wagon to end food waste and make good use of viable pumpkins – those that are whole or carved, but not decorated with paint, glitter, or any other substances that could be harmful to animals. In Virginia Beach, Lynnhaven River NOW, a Keep America local affiliate, is accepting donations of pumpkins at their office (3712 Holland Road) from Nov. 4-8 for free composting courtesy of LRNow and partners Drishti and Tidewater Composting. If you join them on Wednesday or Thursday, Nov. 6 & 7 between 4-5pm, you can meet their partners to learn more about composting and enjoy some apple cider and fall treats!
There are 10 farmers’ market locations across DC that will collect compostable food scraps like pumpkins. Drop off your leftovers during market hours and they’ll be sent to Prince George’s County Organics Compost facility to break down naturally. If you have whole, unblemished pumpkins that haven’t been carved or painted, they can be donated for food usage. DC-based organization Pumpkins for the People has arranged several drop-off sites throughout the city. The pumpkins will go to one of the org’s not-for-profit partners like Foodprints, Miriam’s Kitchen, or Martha’s Table. Drop-off sites are active until Wednesday, November 22.
In Fairfax County locals are invited to drop off their pumpkins for composting at two locations in the area, with collection hours on weekdays and weekends until Friday, November 17. Be sure to remove any candle wax, paint, and glitter from your pumpkins before sending them to compost. Cutting the gourds into pieces is also helpful.
Rivanna Solid Waste Authority (RSWA) will host the 7th Annual Great Pumpkin smash Composting Event at McIntire Recycling Center, located at 611 McIntire Road in Charlottesville from November 6 -11, 2024. Participants will be able to “smash” their pumpkins by dropping them into a large container, which will be delivered to a composting facility. Pumpkin composting is free of charge and open to City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County residents.
The Henrico Environmental Action Resource Team (H.E.A.R.T.) and Keep Henrico Beautiful will host a pumpkin composting program from Nov. 1 to 8. Residents are able to drop off their Halloween pumpkins for free at the Springfield Road Public Use Area, 10600 Fords Country Lane, or Charles City Road Public Use Area, 2075 Charles City Road. Pumpkins can be carved but cannot have paint or other artificial decorations on them. Following the pumpkin composting, the county will continue the composting program through NOPE Compost Company by accepting kitchen scraps from residents for free. Many other drop-off locations are available in the Central Virginia: Sustainable Ways to Dispose of Pumpkins in 2024 – CVWMA.
It is estimated that Americans throw away 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkin every year! That’s why we appreciate the farmers markets, farms, and recycling facilities that are offering an environmentally-friendly way for residents to dispose of leftover pumpkins without increasing landfill waste.