It is a question most residents have asked as they watch their favorite fall decoration wither away on the porch: What am I going to do with all of these pumpkins and gourds? While some residents may leave out their festive fare for birds and squirrels to snack on, most throw them in the trash to be taken to the landfill. In an effort to reduce the waste at the landfill, communities across the region have teamed up with the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio to host pumpkin and gourd drop-off sites so they can be recycled and turned into nutrient-rich compost. The city of Grove City and Keep Grove City Beautiful joined in the effort this year, placing two large dumpsters at Fryer Park from Nov. 8 to Nov. 14 for citizens who wanted to recycle their pumpkins and gourds. Shown here is Justin Reed, a service department employee for the city, placing a pumpkin in the dumpster that will be taken to a composting facility on Monday. Linda Rosine, the city’s environmental coordinator, said they hope to offer this service next year as early indicators show that their “Great Pumpkin and Gourd Drop Off” was quite successful. Rosine added this program was a part of their city-wide effort to reduce food waste within the community.
