Pumpkin SMASH!
- Barbara K.
- Nov 8, 2024
- 2 min read
We love pumpkins for Halloween, but when the festivities are over, keep the fun going -- at a Pumpkin SMASH!
This Saturday, November 8, bring your pumpkins to one of several locations that will collect them for composting.
In Chicago:
Plant Chicago
4459 S Marshfield Ave
Chicago IL 60609
Hours: Sat, Nov 9th 10am-3pm
Gary Comer Crops Youth Farm
7230 S South Chicago Ave
Chicago IL 60619
Hours: Saturday Nov 9th 10-2pm
Morton Elementary School
431 N Troy Street
Chicago IL 60612
Hours: Sat, Nov 9, 10a - 2p
Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences
3857 W 111th St
Chicago IL 60655
Hours: Nov 9, 10:00am-2:00pm
Guild Row
3130 N Rockwell
Chicago IL 60618
Hours: November 9th; 10a-4p
Carl Von Linne Elementary School
3221 N Sacramento Ave
Chicago IL 60618
Hours: Sat Nov 9, 10am-2pm
Lake View High School
4015 N Ashland Ave
Chicago IL 60613
Hours: Sat, Nov 9th 9am-12pm
Disney II Magnet School
3815 N Kedvale Ave
Chicago IL 60641
Hours: Sat Nov 9th 9am-12pm
Firehouse / Andersonville Chamber of Commerce
6040 N Clark
Chicago IL 60660
Hours: Nov. 9th, 10AM-2PM
Plus dozens of suburban locations. Find them here at www.scarce.org
Pumpkin SMASHes were started by Kay McKeen, the founder of SCARCE. Based in DuPage County, SCARCE is a leader in sustainability and conservation and one of CCRx's heros!
In 2023, SCARCE led 95 Pumpkin Smash sites that
Composted over 241 tons of pumpkins (that’s 482,000 lbs!)
Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 173.34 tons of CO2e
Diverted 51,828 gallons of water from landfills
Pumpkins are 90% water -- That's Bad for the landfill -- but good for compost!
Composting is nature’s way of recycling with many benefits:
Avoids landfill greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing organics (currently, landfills are the 3rd largest producers of methane in the U.S.!)
Produces a useful, nutrient-dense soil amendment
Pumpkins are 90% water which is great for our soil, not so good in our landfills
Learn more at www.scarce.org
Don't toss 'em -- SMASH 'EM!!
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