Olivia for the Ocean

It’s estimated that more than 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins are thrown away each year after Halloween.

When food degrades in a landfill, it does so in an airless environment. It’s airless because the trash is compacted further and further to make room for the next truck of garbage. And when food degrades in an airless environment, it releases methane which is 25 times more potent a greenhouse gas compared to carbon dioxide.

So, to help avoid emissions that contribute to climate change and to prevent waste, consider one of these 5 ways to use your pumpkin after Halloween.

Cook a Meal

Roast the seeds and sprinkle with garlic powder and salt to make a delicious snack. Or sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon for something sweeter. Pumpkin seeds are great as a snack or as a topping to a salad. They are also rich in protein, dietary fiber, niacin, iron, zinc, manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus.

Next, roast the flesh and puree it to make an assortment of pumpkin recipes including:

• 1-Pot Pumpkin Curry
• Creamy Roasted Pumpkin Soup
• Pumpkin Lasagna
• Pumpkin Risotto
• Pumpkin Chili
• Pumpkin Cornbread Casserole
• Pumpkin Enchiladas

If you have way too many pumpkins on your hands, consider pureeing the cooked pumpkin or making a vegetable stock and then freezing it. Freeze portions in a cupcake tin and the store it in a silicone bag or mason jar. That way you’ll have pumpkin puree whenever you need it in the months to come.

Make a Planter

Make a Fall-themed planter with your pumpkin but cutting off the top, scooping out the seeds and planting your favorite plant in it! It’s decorative and a great way to use your pumpkin! If you’re using a plant you eventually want to put in your garden, you can bury the pumpkins with the plant later and this will give your plant added nutrients!

DIY Face Mask

Hydrate your skin with a pumpkin facial by rubbing pumpkin puree on your face. Leave it on for 15 minutes, wipe off and toss the puree in the compost and then rinse your face. Want a little extra exfoliate? Add some used coffee grounds!

Create a Bird Feeder

Give your feathered friends a little snack by cutting off the top of the pumpkin, scooping out the seeds (to roast later) and filling it with bird seeds! Use some string to tie it up to a tree branch and enjoy watching your feathery neighbors snack on seeds.

Compost It

Finally, if you can’t use it any of these ways or your pumpkin is already molding, make sure you compost it or bury it in your yard. Not only does this add nutrients to the soil but it is an easy way to avoid the extra greenhouse gas emissions that come from produce degrading in a landfill.

What do you think? Can you use one of these methods for upcycling your pumpkins? What do you normally do with your pumpkins after Halloween? Tell me in the comments!

For related and random posts, check out:

• 5 Ways to Fight Food Waste
• 10 Tips for Buying Groceries Without Plastic