VancouverMETRO VANCOUVER NEWS
Port Coquitlam encourages pumpkin recycling after Halloween
Residents can put unpainted, glitter-free and unwaxed pumpkins in their green carts for curbside collection. The city also advises keeping pumpkins off the ground outdoors before and after Halloween because their scent can attract bears into neighbourhoods.
After Halloween, Port Coquitlam encourages residents to place pumpkins in their green carts for curbside collection alongside food scraps and yard trimmings. The BC Conservation Officer Service also reminds residents not to leave pumpkins outdoors for extended periods before or after Halloween, as their scent can attract bears into neighbourhoods.
Pumpkins collected in the green cart program go to a regional composting facility, where they are turned into nutrient-rich soil for farmers and gardeners. Remove all candles and holders before putting a pumpkin in the cart, including metal or plastic tea light holders. Painted, glittered or wax-coated pumpkins cannot be recycled through the green cart and belong in the garbage.
For a greener Halloween, roast pumpkin seeds or use the flesh in recipes. Cut large pumpkins into smaller pieces so they fit in the cart and the lid closes fully. Reuse or recycle costume and decoration materials, use reusable bags to collect candy, and choose treats with minimal packaging. Unwanted, unwrapped candy can go in the green cart. Return plastic candy wrappers and other soft, flexible plastics to a participating Recycle BC depot.
Nearly one-third of household waste consists of compostable food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard trimmings. Composting pumpkins and other organics through the city’s green cart program diverts material from landfill, helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and supports a more sustainable community.
More information about eco-friendly waste options is available at portcoquitlam.ca/waste (http://portcoquitlam.ca/waste).