Did you know that the practice of carving faces on vegetables may have originated in Ireland, where they used large turnips? According to History.com, Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, where pumpkins became the preferred material.

Pumpkins with strange, scary, or funny faces illuminated by candle lights are a sure sign that the Halloween season is upon us. Once again, the SMSC Organics Recycling Facility is offering their FREE Pumpkin Drop-Off Program to the public from November 1-15. Simply remove any candles or decorations from your gourds, squashes, pumpkins, and jack o’ lanterns then swing by during the facility’s normal business hours to reduce waste and help create natural compost.

The SMSC Organics Recycling Facility has hosted an annual pumpkin drop-off program since 2019 which offers residents in Scott County a free and eco-friendly way to dispose of the essential festive decoration. Thanks to this initiative, the facility has already composted 70,680 pounds of the orange, round squash.

Help us make this spooky season eco-friendly by reusing what you can and let’s work together to turn your fall décor into certified, sustainable compost!