Published on 29th October 2019
With an estimated 15 million pumpkins being sold in the days leading up to Halloween, Cheltenham Borough Council is encouraging residents to recycle their Jack o’ lanterns once the celebrations are over.
Pumpkins make an excellent addition to a home compost heap but anyone living in Cheltenham can easily recycle their leftovers at the kerbside.
Residents are asked to remove candles and tea lights before carefully cutting up the pumpkin and placing it inside their food waste caddy. Large pumpkins can be left next to the food caddy for collection from Monday 4 November 2019; this will ensure that pumpkins out on display aren’t taken in error.
As the average carved pumpkin weighs 5kgs and one in five properties are now purchasing a pumpkin as part of the annual festivities, recycling them after the occasion will ensure the pumpkins feed local composting and energy production at Andigestion in Bishops Cleeve. Read more about our food recycling service.
Cllr Chris Coleman, cabinet member for clean and green environment at Cheltenham Borough Council, said: “Halloween is a time for fun and many families will be thinking about carving a pumpkin together, however with sales growing year on year, it is increasingly important that pumpkins are not forgotten when it comes to recycling and composting.
“Halloween can be an ideal opportunity for parents to introduce younger children to these very important environmental messages.”
Recipes can be found on the national Love Food Hate Waste website for those wanting to try something new in the kitchen, including roast pumpkin lasagne, pumpkin ravioli and pumpkin and coriander soup.
For press enquiries contact: Katie Sandey, communications and web team leader, telephone 01242 264231, email [email protected]
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