Don't let your Halloween pumpkin go to waste
While pumpkin carving has become a Halloween tradition, Forest of Dean District Council is encouraging residents to treat pumpkins as more than just a decoration.
With millions of pumpkins thrown away after Halloween each year, the council is encouraging residents to use as much of their pumpkin as possible, recycle any leftovers and explore sustainable alternatives to help reduce waste.
Councillor Andy Moore, Portfolio Holder for Waste and Recycling at Forest of Dean District Council, said:
"Pumpkins are a fun part of Halloween, but it's important to remember they're food first and decorations second.
"If you're buying a pumpkin this year, try to make use of as much of it as possible. From soups and curries to cakes and roasted seeds, there are plenty of delicious ways to enjoy pumpkin while helping to prevent avoidable food waste.
"If you can't use all of it, ideally compost any leftovers at home. If that's not an option, please place them in your weekly food waste collection rather than your rubbish bin. Food waste collected in the Forest of Dean is recycled into renewable energy and fertiliser."
Millions of pumpkins are bought across the UK each year only to be thrown away after a few days. As a food crop, pumpkins require land, water and energy to grow and transport, so throwing them away unnecessarily contributes to food waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
Pumpkins can be used in a wide range of sweet and savoury recipes, and smaller varieties bred for eating are often particularly tasty and nutritious.
As carved pumpkins need to be used quickly, an alternative is to decorate rather than carve your pumpkin. Whole pumpkins can stay fresh for weeks or even months, allowing them to be enjoyed as food after Halloween.
For pumpkins that aren’t used in cooking, residents are encouraged to compost them at home or recycle them through their kerbside food waste collection. Whole pumpkins can be left next to food waste caddies or cut into smaller pieces and placed inside. Any candles, decorations or other non-food items should be removed first.
All food waste collected in the Forest of Dean is treated using anaerobic digestion - a process that produces biogas to generate energy and creates a nutrient-rich fertiliser for farmland.
The council is reminding residents not to leave pumpkins out for wildlife. While often well-intentioned, pumpkins are not a natural food source for many animals and can be harmful, particularly to hedgehogs.
Food waste remains a significant issue both locally and nationally. By making simple changes such as eating more of the food we buy and recycling unavoidable food waste, residents can help reduce waste and lower their environmental impact.
For pumpkin decorating ideas, visit: https://hubbub.org.uk/10-no-carve-ideas-to-decorate-your-pumpkin
Ideas on how to cook pumpkins: https://issuu.com/hubbubuk/docs/recipebook_pumpkinrescue_a4_oct2022?fr=sMTExNjc4MDkyNDM
Residents who need a food waste caddy can order one online at www.fdean.gov.uk/orderabin