When Halloween is over, and porch pumpkins are turning soft, a new twist on recycling is popping up at Sauk Valley Community College. The University of Illinois Extension invites residents to bring their old pumpkins—stripped of all non-organic decorations—to a free Pumpkin Smash on Saturday, November 8th, from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
Instead of tossing pumpkins in the trash and sending them to landfills where they create methane gas, participants can crush them using mallets, trebuchets, and sling shots. Afterward, the remains become valuable compost, not waste. Community groups will offer additional pumpkin-themed games and activities for all ages.