What to do with pumpkins after Halloween (don’t trash them!)

Don’t Trash Your Pumpkins! Here’s Why!

Once Halloween is over, it’s tempting to toss your pumpkins in the garbage and be done with them. But before you roll that bin to the curb, consider this: when pumpkins end up in landfills, they don’t break down the way they do in nature. Instead, they decompose without oxygen, producing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With millions of pumpkins discarded every year, that adds up to a big environmental impact!

The good news? There are plenty of eco-friendly ways to get rid of those pumpkins. Here’s where you can take your pumpkins around Columbus to keep them out of the landfill and make a positive difference for the planet.

Pumpkin Smashing:

Canopy Walk Pumpkin Drop
*No painted pumpkins
November 1, 5-6pm

Local Farms:

Sunrise Sanctuary
•Un-cut, non-painted pumpkins only
•Leave at gate 
16730 Martin Welch Rd.
Marysville, OH 43040

Harrison Farm
•All pumpkins accepted! The sheep eat the pristine ones and chicken eat the others!
•Pumpkins can be dropped off any time, just put them at the front porch of the farmhouse!
5287 Berger Rd.
Groveport, OH 43125

Pumpkins for Pigs also has donation sites outside of Columbus. Click here for the full list. 

Local Composting Sites:
(from savemorethanfood.org)

• SWACO Recycling Convenience Center: October 1 – December 14,  2025
  Monday-Friday 10:30 am- 6:00pm and Saturday 9:00 am-4:30 pm, 2566
  Jackson Pike, Columbus OH
• Bexley: Residents participating in the curbside collection program may set out pumpkins on Mondays, November 6, and December 4. All other Bexley residents, take your pumpkin/gourds to the open 24/7 food waste drop-off toters at City Hall.
• City of Columbus: October 31 -November 30, 2025
  Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 am and 6:00 pm
  • Columbus Waste and Reuse Convenience Center
    2070 Alum Creek Drive, Columbus, OH
  • Westside Waste and Reuse Convenience Center
    1550 Georgesville Road, Columbus, OH
• Dublin: October 20 – December 12, 2025
  • Dublin Service Center
    6555 Shier Rings Road, Dublin OH
• Gahanna: October 30 – December 10, 2025
  • Friendship Park
    52 Oklahoma Avenue, Gahanna, OH
• Grandview: November 4 – November 29, 2025
  • Wallace Gardens
    1581 Goodale Boulevard, Grandview Heights, OH
• Grove City: November 1 – December 2, 2025
  • Fryer Park
    3899 Orders Road, Grove City, OH
• New Albany: October 31 – December 8, 2025
  • New Albany Public Service Complex
    7800 Bevelhymer Road, New Albany, OH
• Reynoldsburg: November 3 – December 5, 2025
  • Huber Park (H Lot)
    640 Davidson Dr., Reynoldsburg, OH – *This location will accept corn stalks as well.
• Upper Arlington: October 31 – December 8, 2025
  • Fancyburg Park
    3375 Kioka Avenue, Upper Arlington, OH.
• Westerville: November 1 – November 30, 2025
  • Westerville Service Department
    350 Park Meadow Rd, Westerville OH.
  • Westerville Parks & Recreation
    469 Westdale Ave, Westerville OH
• Worthington: November 1 – December 1, 2025
  • Worthington Service and Engineering Building
    380 Highland Avenue, Worthington OH