Dispose of pumpkins safely, residents urged

An estimated 18,000 tonnes of pumpkin ends up in landfill each year, according to waste management company Waste Managed

People in Hull and East Yorkshire are being urged to find ways to reduce their pumpkin waste this Halloween.

Some 18,000 tonnes of discarded gourds end up in landfill each year, according to to waste management company Waste Managed, but could be used in recipes or to feed wildlife.

Hull City Council has asked residents to make sure they place leftovers in the compost bin and not the general waste bin.

Councillor Charles Quinn, portfolio holder for environment, said: "By consuming, or composting our pumpkins, we can make Halloween fun and environmentally friendly."

The "pumpkin graveyard" at Scalby Grange keeps rotting pumpkins away from wildlife

Scalby Grange farm's pick-your-own patch is one of several in the region.

Patrick Wilson, who manages the site near Gilberdyke, explained the eco-friendly way they dispose of pumpkins that are not sold after Halloween.

He said “We’ve named it our pumpkin graveyard – we just let children smash them up as much as they can.

"As soon as we’ve finished after Halloween, we’ll get the cultivators out and plough them in."

This keeps pumpkins away from animals that might come to harm if they digest them, he added.

Hedgehogs are one animal which cannot tolerate pumpkins

Some wildlife enjoy pumpkin, like squirrels and birds, but the fruit can cause major issues for other animals.

Ann Day, of Wolds Hedgehog Rescue in Driffield, said these nocturnal creatures were particularly sensitive to pumpkins and can cause "such severe diarrhoea" and dehydration that it can "eventually lead to death".

She added: "[Pumpkins] are so high in fibre that their little digestive systems can’t cope with it.”

The council said pumpkins should not be left to rot in gardens or woodland areas for this reason.

But they can be chopped into small pieces and hung from a bird feeder or put on a high table for birds and squirrels, advised Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue, adding that once it had started to rot it should be removed and composted immediately.

Rachel Green said the versatility of pumpkin meant it could be cooked with ingredients as different as marmalade or rabbit

Leftover pumpkin can also be turned into pie, soup and other more unusual recipes.

TV chef Rachel Green, who is from nearby Lincolnshire and has written several cookbooks, said she will use pumpkins to make hummus.

She described them as "very, very versatile" and said that once roasted, "they will go with anything really", like chicken or sausages.

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