As Halloween approaches, Colchester City Council is encouraging residents to think about what happens to their pumpkins once the spooky season is over.
Instead of throwing them away, pumpkins can be recycled through weekly food waste collections, composted at home, turned into tasty meals or, in some cases, donated to local farms for animals to eat.
When Halloween is over, residents can recycle pumpkin leftovers through their food waste collection service. Simply remove any candles, lights or decorations and place the pumpkin in your food waste caddy. If it's too large to fit inside, leave it whole next to the caddy on collection day.
Pumpkins can also be put to good use in the kitchen. The flesh can be used in soups, curries, cakes and pasta dishes, while the seeds can be roasted as a healthy snack.
For those looking for another sustainable option, some local farms and animal attractions may be able to make use of unwanted pumpkins as enrichment or treats for their animals. Residents should always contact organisations directly before donating and follow any guidance provided, as not all sites are able to accept them. Residents should only donate pumpkins where they have been specifically accepted and should not leave them in parks, woodlands or open spaces for wildlife.
Food waste collected in Colchester is sent to an anaerobic digestion facility, where it is turned into renewable energy and fertiliser for agriculture.
Cllr Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Neighbourhoods and Leisure, said: "Most pumpkins only spend a few days on display before being thrown away, but there are lots of simple ways to make use of them once Halloween is over.
"Instead of throwing them away, we'd encourage residents to get as much use from them as possible. You could turn them into delicious meals, compost them at home, donate them to a local farm where appropriate, or recycle them through your weekly food waste collection.
"If you can't use your pumpkin at home, recycling it through your food waste collection is quick, easy and helps turn waste into renewable energy."
More information on recycling in Colchester is available here.