Houstonians can drop off any used or unused pumpkins to the Solid Waste Management Department starting Nov. 1.

In a nutshell

Houston's SWMD is partnering with council member Sallie Alcorn to kick off the return of the 4th Annual Pumpkin Composting Drop-Off program.

According to an Oct. 9 news release, the program is a convenient way for residents to compost any leftover pumpkins after Halloween festivities conclude Oct. 31.

Residents can drop off retired jack-o-lanterns, whole pumpkins, pumpkin seeds and/or pumpkin pulp from Nov. 1-Dec. 6. Drop off locations include:


City of Houston Reuse WarehouseWest Park Recycling CenterAll costumes and decorations must be removed from the pumpkins before drop-off, per the release.

About the program

The pumpkin compost drop-off event started approximately four years ago when the city decided to find ways to decrease food waste and slow down the amount of products going to overflowing landfills.

According to the release, the program collected and composted over 16,000 pounds of pumpkins last year. With expanded drop-off locations and extended hours this year, SWMD Director Mark Wilfalk said he is optimistic about the program’s growing impact.


“We’re excited to see how much more we can collect this year,” he said. “This annual program offers a great opportunity for Houston residents to engage in composting, and we hope to see it continue expanding as we pursue additional funding for composting initiatives.”

Alcorn is also a huge proponent of composting, and was part of pushing for a grant in August from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to further expand the city's composting services.

“Pumpkin composting is one of my favorite traditions in Houston," she said. “This year's pumpkin composting program marks another milestone in our city’s journey towards a more sustainable future. I encourage all Houstonians to take advantage of the program this year.”