After Halloween: Give Your Pumpkin a Second Act

Halloween's over, but your pumpkins still have a little life left in them.

The costumes are packed away, the candy's disappearing, and those pumpkins on the porch have officially overstayed their welcome.

Before tossing them in the trash, here are a few easy ways to give them a second life.

1. Toss It in the Green Bin

The easiest option! In Bellevue and many surrounding Eastside communities, pumpkins can go in your food and yard waste cart to be turned into compost.

Just remove candles, stickers, and decorations first. Painted or glitter-covered pumpkins should go in the garbage unless those materials can be completely removed.

2. Turn It Into Garden Gold

Have a backyard compost pile? Chop your pumpkin into smaller pieces and mix it with dry leaves. Cover it with additional compost material to help it break down and discourage pests.

By spring, it can contribute to healthier garden soil.

3. Save the Seeds (or Roast Them!)

If your pumpkin is fresh and uncarved, save some seeds to plant next spring or roast them for a snack.

For cooking, stick with fresh, edible pumpkins that haven't been painted or left sitting outdoors.

4. Skip Feeding the Wildlife

Leaving pumpkins in the woods might sound like a nice idea, but it can attract pests and disrupt wildlife.

Composting is a much better way to return those nutrients to the earth.

One Last Fall Tradition

A little less waste, a little more compost, and one less pumpkin on the porch.

Sometimes the simplest habits make the biggest difference.

Kim + Joel | JR Group | Heaton Dainard