Oh my gourd: Ohio State opens seasonal pumpkin composting site

Meghan Beery
Fri, 08 Nov 2024 07:08:52 +0000
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Ohio State’s Facilities Operations and Development opened a temporary pumpkin drop-off in the parking lot at 2500 Kenny Road. Credit: Courtesy of Molly Kathleen

Nothing is spookier than leftover Halloween pumpkins producing greenhouse gases.

In an effort to divert organic waste like pumpkins and gourds from landfills, Ohio State’s Facilities Operations and Development opened a seasonal pumpkin drop-off in the UniPrint parking lot located at 2500 Kenny Road.?

The labeled dumpster is available 24/7 until Dec. 3, said Brooke McKivergan, a public relations specialist for the Office of Administration and Planning.

Molly Kathleen, Ohio State’s zero waste consultant for Facilities Operations and Development, said the initiative — which began in 2021 — resulted from a prior waste characterization study conducted at the university.?

“During our study, we sorted, weighed and documented all of the different types of waste that was generated on campus,” Kathleen said. “And what we discovered was that about a third of all of the waste that we sorted was organic material, and most of that could be composted.”

Composting organic materials has significant environmental benefits, Kathleen said.?

“When the pumpkins and other organic materials decompose in landfills, they end up generating methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas, and it contributes to climate change,” Kathleen said. “So, by composting our pumpkins, we can divert them from the landfills and prevent methane emissions, as well as reduce our carbon footprint.”

Once pumpkins are collected, they are taken to a registered composting facility and undergo a process called aerated windrow composting, Kathleen said. This procedure involves arranging materials in long rows and slowly turning the rows over the course of multiple months.

“The oxygen helps speed up the decomposition process by allowing all of the microorganisms to break down the pumpkins more efficiently,” Kathleen said. “So, the windrow system ensures that all of the material inside the pile maintains the right balance of moisture and temperature.”

Last year, the program diverted over 6,000 pounds of pumpkins and gourds from landfills, Kathleen said.

“We are hoping that by encouraging more people to participate in composting and the seasonal compost collection drives, that we can continue to make a measurable impact and send these things off to be recycled back into our ecosystem instead of tossing them into the landfill,” Kathleen said.

Whole pumpkins and gourds are accepted, according to a release from Facilities Operations and Development. Carved pumpkins are accepted, though they must meet specific requirements.

“If carved, please remove any candles or lights from inside of the jack-o’-lantern. Avoid dropping off pumpkins that have paint or permanent marker on them,” the release states.?

The release also states that students living on campus can deposit pumpkins and gourds in residence hall compost containers. Plastic and non-food items are not accepted.