For Immediate Release: October 28, 2022 | Published by Waste Free Greenwich & Greenwich Conservation Commission 

Contact Julie DesChamps, wastefreegreenwich@gmail.com, 917-842-7827 

Squash Waste at The Great Pumpkin Rescue

The Greenwich Conservation Commission and Waste Free Greenwich will host The Great Pumpkin Rescue on Saturday, November 12th, 2022 from 1-4 pm at the Cos Cob Train Station Parking Lot to collect pumpkins for composting and to raise awareness about food waste in our community. 

Bring your pumpkins to be composted and stay for the fun! This free, family-friendly event will feature a pumpkin smash and lawn games, including pumpkin bowling, spooky ring toss, pumpkin bean bag toss and gourd tic tac toe. Earn raffle tickets for a chance to win prizes for more sustainable home. To participate in the pumpkin smash, residents must bring their own bat or mallet and protective eyewear. The Waste Free Greenwich team will also conduct a compost demonstration to share tips about backyard composting and other ways to cut food waste. 

What Is Acceptable? Jack-o-lanterns, pumpkins and gourds only. Please no paint, glitter, googly eyes or candles. These decorative details will contaminate the compost when processed. No other food scraps or other organic material can be dropped off at the event. 

Scary Facts About Pumpkins. More than 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins are sent to incinerators and landfills annually in the U.S. Diverting this material from incineration cuts pollution generated by burning waste, which negatively impacts public health. When left to decompose in a landfill, that food waste produces methane gas, a greenhouse gas that is far more potent than carbon dioxide. Pumpkins and gourds are 90% water and are full of nutrients. Composting this organic material captures these nutrients and water, creating a soil amendment to benefit our parks, gardens and farms. 

Don’t trash them! If you can’t join The Great Pumpkin Rescue, bring your pumpkins and gourds for composting to the designated drop area near the yard waste section at the Holly Hill Resource Recovery Facility during hours of operation. Alternatively, remove the seeds and place them in a backyard composter. They can also be left in your yard for animals to enjoy! Please do not put pumpkins on the streets; only leaves should be collected with the Town’s Leaf Collection Program.

The Great Pumpkin Rescue is sponsored by JKJ Carting and IN Greenwich. For further information, visit https://www.wastefreegreenwich.org/events or contact wastefreegreenwich@gmail.com. 

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