Every October, pumpkins become the centerpiece of Halloween celebrations. They appear on porches, in windows, and even in café menus as pumpkin-flavored treats. Yet once the holiday excitement fades, most pumpkins face a frightening end: they are simply thrown away. According to environmental researchers, the United States alone discards more than a billion pounds of pumpkins every year after Halloween — and that waste carries a heavy environmental cost.
A Festive Tradition with a Hidden Cost
Pumpkins are grown in massive quantities for seasonal demand, especially in October. When millions of households carve jack-o’-lanterns, the edible parts often go uneaten. After Halloween, these pumpkins usually end up in landfills instead of being composted or reused. While they may seem harmless because they are natural and biodegradable, the problem lies in where they decompose.
How Pumpkin Waste Contributes to Climate Change
In landfills, pumpkins rot without oxygen, producing methane, a greenhouse gas far stronger than carbon dioxide. Methane traps significantly more heat in the atmosphere, accelerating global warming. So, the more pumpkin waste we send to landfills, the bigger the climate impact becomes.
A Simpler Way Forward
Fortunately, small changes can make a big difference. Instead of discarding pumpkins, people can compost them, feed them to wildlife where safe, or use the leftover flesh in soups, breads, or roasted snacks. Many communities now host post-Halloween pumpkin collection drives, turning spooky décor into nutrient-rich compost that helps gardens and farms.
Halloween doesn’t have to haunt the environment. With a bit of awareness and action, pumpkins can continue to bring joy — without creating a climate nightmare.
