Halloween is over, the candy bowl is suspiciously empty and that once proudly carved pumpkin is starting to look… a little tired.
So what should you do with your pumpkin now?
The good news is pumpkins are compostable, which means keeping them out of the garbage is easy. Whether you use your green cart, compost at home or make one last trip to the City’s Compost Depot, there are plenty of ways to give your pumpkin a second life.
Option 1: Toss it in your green cart
For most residents, this is the easiest option.
All food waste – including your carved pumpkin – can go right in the green cart. You can also fill up your green cart with yard waste as you clean up before winter. Leaves, tree trimmings, branches and more can all get tossed right in. No need to bag them!
⚠️ One thing we absolutely do not want to see in your Green Cart though? Elm wood. Elm tree trimmings need to go straight to the landfill. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Why? Because even the trimmings can transport the beetles that carry Dutch elm disease.
- Elm wood is free to drop off at the City’s Material Recovery Centre for all Saskatoon residents and businesses. Do your part in protecting our urban forest and don’t put the trimmings in your green cart – or black cart for that matter.
Option 2: Compost it at home
Pumpkins are a great addition to backyard compost bins. If you’re a home composter, break your pumpkin into smaller chunks and mix it with dry materials such as leaves, shredded paper or other yard waste. This helps everything break down more efficiently and keeps your compost balanced.
As a bonus, if you miss a few seeds, you might end up with a surprise pumpkin plant next summer. Learn more if you’re new to home composting.
Your Yard Waste Makes a BIG Impact
Option 3: Take it to the City’s Compost Depot
If your green cart is already packed with fall yard waste, or you're tackling a bigger yard clean-up project, consider a trip to the Compost Depot.
Residents can drop off excess yard waste (and pumpkins! 🎃) free of charge until the Compost Depot closes for the season on Saturday, November 7. The Compost Depot is located at Highway 7 and 11th Street and is open 7 days a week, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. Access to the site is subject to weather and site conditions.
🚫 The City Compost Depot does NOT accept elm wood, treated and untreated lumber, building materials, garbage or any animal waste/litter. Food waste is also NOT accepted for drop-off at the compost depot; selected food waste may be composted at home and all food waste can now be placed in green carts.
From Yard Waste to Compost: How Saskatoon’s Compost Depot Works
A small change that makes a difference
Every pumpkin that is composted instead of thrown away helps keep valuable organic material out of the landfill. It's a simple step that turns a Halloween decoration into something useful for local soils and gardens.
So before that pumpkin spends another week on your front step, give it one last job and let it become compost.
