Keep Halloween waste out of the landfill; RDCO urges
Put Halloween waste in its place: don’t let it haunt the landfill (Image Credit: RDCO)
The Regional District of Central Okanagan is reminding residents to compost their pumpkins and recycle candy wrappers and other flexible plastics to reduce Halloween waste.
Unpainted pumpkins can go in backyard composters or green-lidded curbside yard waste carts, provided candles and non-organic decorations are removed first.
Chopping pumpkins into smaller pieces and mixing them with dry leaves helps them break down more quickly, producing nutrient-rich compost for spring gardens, says Cynthia Coates, the regional district’s solid waste services supervisor.
Yard waste collection continues through the end of December, giving residents extra time to dispose of their pumpkins properly.
Candy wrappers and other flexible plastic packaging should not go in curbside garbage or recycling carts. Instead, residents can bundle them with other flexible plastics, including bread bags, overwrap and zipper bags, and place them in pink recycling boxes or return them to a recycling depot.
The regional district also recommends visiting Love Food Hate Waste Canada for tips on making the most of pumpkins before composting them.