Smash, Don’t Trash! Composting pumpkins after Halloween

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND)- Instead of throwing your Jack-O-Lanterns away, experts encourage you to compost them. Agriculturalists, Ann Swanson says, a good smash in the dirt could help the environment.

"Composting is super important. Number one, food waste is a huge issue in this country, and household food waste makes up a lot of the, the waste, that, that we see," Swanson said.

Composting pumpkins can help reduce food waste and improve produce growth for farms. Additionally, pumpkins have a natural toxin that protects farm life. Even leaves can go into the compost, but the be weary of decorated pumpkins with paint. Check for chemicals, which could hurt the composting process.

"This toxin in the seeds actually paralyzes the tapeworms and then the host. Whatever it is, pig, chicken cows are able to expel the tapeworms as they're paralyzed," Swanson added.

Swanson encourages people to donate compost if they do not want to get their hands dirty. You can find active composting facilities on the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

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