It is estimated than around 18,000 tonnes of pumpkins are thrown away in the UK over Halloween, according to ReFood, with roughly just a third estimated to be recycled.
With many using them over the weekend celebrations, councils are now using everything in their comms powers to ensure waste pumpkins in particular end up in the food waste bins.
With the energy crisis in mind, Buckinghamshire council looked to remind residents that recycling one pumpkin produces enough energy to boil a kettle five times.
Did you know that recycling your pumpkin after Halloween produces enough energy to boil the kettle five times*… perfect for escaping the tea-rrifying part of a Halloween movie! Remember to chop your pumpkin up, & put it in your food waste caddy. *2kg pumpkin generating 0.6kwh pic.twitter.com/6qk4oH3bHt
— Buckinghamshire recycles (@recycle4Bucks) October 31, 2022
In Wales, Blaenau Gwent urged residents to ensure pumpkins are broken up, but also said they can be placed whole next to the caddy.
Don’t bin the Pumpkin! After the Halloween festivities we can collect your pumpkin on your usual recycling day. Break your #pumpkin up and put it in your food caddy or place the whole pumpkin next to the caddy.
Why not make pumpkin soup? Find out more https://t.co/rl1tKovSlV pic.twitter.com/PIGD8FSgD2— Blaenau Gwent CBC (@BlaenauGwentCBC) October 31, 2022
Rates
Meanwhile, south Cambridgeshire district council highlighted that around 47,000 pumpkins will be bought by residents in the area this Halloween, with a quarter ending up in residual waste.
The local authority pointed out that only a third will be eaten, with just over a third composted or put into food and garden waste bins.
The local authority continued that most costumes are worn only twice, with 2 in 5 only worn once, with an estimated 7 million costumes ending up in the bin in the UK every year.
To prevent packaging waste, residents were advised to only choose treats in recyclable packaging.
WRAP
Resources charity WRAP shared its tips and tricks for a more sustainable Halloween, including reducing disposable plastic and renting a costume.
The charity said that while sweets are often wrapped in flexible plastic which is usually not collected from kerbside, residents can recycle their sweet wrappers alongside plastic bags and other wrapping at supermarkets across the country.
It added: “Just be sure to put them inside another bag and drop them off at the front of the store next time you go shopping.”
WRAP also suggested making costumes from recyclable items such as cardboard or old fabric. Additionally, it noted that costumes should be reused, bought second-hand or rented.
The charity then listed tips for reducing disposable plastic, for example by switching to real or paper pumpkins instead of plastic ones. It also recommended using face paint instead of a plastic mask, opting for real cutlery and plates instead of disposable ones at parties, and using wicker or metal buckets when trick or treating.
WRAP’s initiative Love Food Hate Waste shared recipes so that residents use up their Halloween pumpkins to prevent food waste.
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