What to do with pumpkins and cornstalks after the holiday

What to do with the jack o’ lanterns and cornstalks once Halloween is over? There are options for both SMART members and those who are not a member of the SMART program. 

For members, there will be curbside pickup on Friday, Oct. 30 and Friday, Nov. 20 for those with a Monday and Tuesday solid waste route, and Friday, Nov. 6 and Friday, Dec. 4 for those with a Wednesday and Thursday route. 

Collection will begin at 7 a.m. and will collect pumpkins, cornstalks, grass, leaves and twigs under a quarter inch in diameter if they are in a paper yard waste bag or barrel. 

For residents who are not SMART members there are still options. Residents with a transfer station permit can drop off their pumpkins at the Water Pollution Control Facility. The facility is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 a.m. and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. The facility is located at 759 Russells Mills Road. 

A day pass for the station is $10 and an annual pass is $50. SMART members can get a pass for free. These can be obtained at the Department of Public Works office at 759 Russells Mills Road. 

Pumpkins and cornstalks can also be composted in backyard bins. Residents can purchase a backyard bin at the Crapo Hill Landfill scale house, located at 300 Samuel Barnet Blvd. The scale house is open Monday through Friday 7:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. The machines are available for $25. They only accept cash, checks or money orders.

Regardless of the disposal method, all decorations must be removed. These include candles, lights, stickers, rope, string and plastic. Painted pumpkins cannot be composted and must be thrown out in the regular trash.