Give your unpainted Halloween pumpkin and cornstalks second lives by setting them out with the Town of Dartmouth’s yard waste pickup, or via compost.

The fall dates for the Town of Dartmouth’s Save Money and Reduce Trash (SMART) trash collection program curbside yard waste collection follows:the Monday & Tuesday Solid Waste Collection routes have yard waste collection on Oct. 7, 2022, Oct. 28, 2022, and Nov. 18. The Wednesday & Thursday Solid Waste Collection routes have yard waste collection on Oct. 21, Nov. 4, and Dec. 2.

Pickup begins at 7 a.m. All pumpkins, cornstalks, grass, leaves, and yard clippings must be placed in paper bags, loose in barrels, or corrugated boxes. 

If you made a jack-o’-lantern, remove all lights and other items before placing the pumpkin out for yard waste collection. Twine, rope, wire, or decorations should also be removed from any cornstalks.

Do not make bags, barrels, or boxes too heavy.

Pumpkins, cornstalks, and yard waste may also be brought to the Water Pollution Control Facility, located at 759 Russells Mills Road. A Transfer Station Sticker is required and available free of charge to SMART members.

The fall waste can also be placed in your backyard compost bin along with fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and coffee filters, eggshells, tea bags that tear, grass, leaves, and twigs.

Compost bins can be purchased at the Crapo Hill Landfill Scale House, located 300 Samuel Barnet Blvd. in New Bedford, Monday to Friday from 7:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 8 to 10:45 a.m. 

The Earth Machine and the New Age Composter are both available at a cost of $25 each. Cash, check, or money order only. No credit or debit cards.

For more information on trash, recycling, or yard waste collection, call the Department of Public Works at (508) 999-0740. To learn more on composting, recycling, or waste reduction, contact the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District by emailing Marissa@gnbrrmdistrict.org, or call (508) 979-1493.