Recycle your pumpkins this Halloween

Published: 16 October 2025

October means many of us have started thinking about Halloween decorations, and a staple for this celebration is the pumpkin. They are often discarded in general waste, but they can be put to better use. You could:

• Cook with it - the flesh makes delicious soups, curries and sweet treats.
• Compost it - pumpkins break down quickly and add valuable nutrients to your compost.
• Recycle it - if you don't have a compost heap, simply place your pumpkin next to your food waste caddy on collection day.

By recycling, you are helping to reduce waste and cut carbon emissions, so let's keep pumpkins out of of our black bins and give them a new life!

For pumpkin recipe inspiration, check out BBC Good Food.