Rather than letting your Halloween pumpkins rot or tossing them in the trash, consider these four options provided by the City of Charleston. Fun fact: In 2023, 2.5+ tons of pumpkins were composted instead of being sent to landfills.
Pumpkin smash
Smash your pumpkins, carved or not, before they are composted. Wax, paint, glue, and glitter are not compostable, so use a veggie peeler to scrape them clean before you bring them. Pro tip: Rotting jack-o-lanterns are great for smashing.
- Saturday, Nov. 9 | New Realm Brewing Co., Daniel Island
- Thursday, Nov. 14 | Palmetto Brewing Co.
- Sunday, Nov. 24 | West Ashley Thanksgiving Farmers Market
These events are free + registration is not required.
Composting options
Drop-off locations:
- New Realm Brewing | Friday, Nov. 1-Sunday, Nov. 10
Sunday-Thursday: 11:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m
Friday-Saturday: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. - Bees Ferry Compost Facility | Friday, Nov. 1-Saturday, Dec.14
Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Closed Sundays) - Drop off anytime at any of the 20 food scrap drop-off sites around Charleston. Sign up for Charleston Composts.
Donate to a farm
Support local farms, reduce waste, and treat the farm animals with a festive snack. Sounds like a win in our book. Note: Clean, whole pumpkins are preferred.
Drop-off locations:
- Lightning Rock Land and Cattle | Folks can drop pumpkins at the front gate.
- Several Lowcountry farms are listed on the Pumpkins for Pigs page, but always check with the farm first before planning to donate.
Get cooking
If you have an edible pumpkin, prepare to chow down.
- Roast the seeds
- Get creative with these recipes
