Dispose of Pumpkins and Batteries the Right Way

Items like pumpkins, batteries, and grease can create some scary situations when thrown in the wrong place. Follow the guidelines below to ensure safe disposal! 

Pumpkins  

What’s really spooky?  The fact that 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins end up in landfills annually! When pumpkins rot in landfills they emit methane (CH₄), a gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO₂). Follow these steps to make the most of your gourd, divert waste, and benefit the earth long after Halloween.  

• When carving a jack-o-lantern, save the seeds you scoop out and roast them for a nutritious snack. 

• Use your hollow pumpkin as a biodegradable pot by filling it with soil and a plant. 

• Jack-o-lanterns make excellent additions to your home compost, but be sure to remove any candle wax, paint, or glitter that won't biodegrade. 

• If you do not have a home compost, bring your undecorated pumpkins to a Wake County Convenience Center compost drop-off site. Cut up your pumpkin to allow as many pumpkins to fit in the compost carts as possible. Find the closest compost drop off site in Raleigh Reuse's Waste Wizard  by searching "pumpkins" or "food scraps".  

• Some farmers accept pumpkins as treats for their livestock; check out Pumpkins for Pigs to see if a farm near you accepts them.  

• Compost your pumpkin at Toward Zero Waste's Smash Don't Trash event at the Midtown Farmers Market on November 2nd. Last year they collected and composted 1,418.80 lbs. of pumpkins! 

Batteries  

Batteries power many of the devices we use every day, but improperly disposing of them can harm both human and environmental health. The U.S. discards over 3 billion batteries a year, adding hazardous chemicals like mercury, lead, and cadmium to landfills which can leach into groundwater. Lithium batteries, in particular, cause fires at Materials Recovery Facilities and can even melt garbage trucks. 

Batteries contain critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphite that can be reused. Use the Waste Wizard to find locations to safely dispose of batteries and help recover important materials.

Grease Goblins and Fatbergs 

Pouring fats, oils, and grease (FOG) down the drain can cause big problems. FOG cools and sticks to pipes and other items that should never go down the drain like "flushable" wipes. Together they form "fatbergs," which block sewers and lead to nasty backups and overflows. To avoid this, never pour fats, oils, or grease down the sink or toilet. Wipe small amounts with a paper towel and throw them in the trash. You can also save grease in a jar in the fridge and reuse it for cooking. For larger amounts, drop them off at a Wake County Recycling Facility or schedule a free pickup with Solid Waste Services. FOG collected is refined and turned into biofuel, helping the environment and saving our drains.