Take Jack out Back, or put it with the green bin

Waterloo Region – An estimated 50,000 pumpkins are used in Waterloo Region to celebrate Halloween each year. Those discarded pumpkins can produce about 200 metric tonnes of organic waste.  Residents are encouraged to divert pumpkins away from the Region’s landfill by keeping them out of the garbage.

Options for pumpkin disposal include:

• Take Jack out Back! Cut up the pumpkin and put it in your backyard composter.
• Use the green bin: either cut it up and place it inside the green bin, or set out whole pumpkins on top of or beside the green bin on your regular collection day.

 Please remember to remove candles, lights or any plastic decorations.

 Composting pumpkins not only keeps them out of Waterloo Region’s one and only landfill, but the compost helps grow more pumpkins and other crops.

 More information about all the Region’s waste programs can be found on our website at www.regionofwaterloo.ca/waste, or by calling the 24-hour Customer Service team at 519-575-4400.

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Media contact:

Cari Rastas Howard, Supervisor, Communications & Programs, Waste Management

choward@regionofwaterloo.ca,  519-575-4400 ext. 8412