Save pumpkins from landfill sites this Halloween

Nearly every one of the pumpkins sold each year in Herefordshire is used to create spooky jack-o'-lanterns for Halloween celebrations.

Scarier than all those lanterns, however, is the fact that once October 31 is over most of the pumpkins are thrown in the bin and sent to landfill.

Laura Preece, Herefordshire Council's recycling officer, is urging people to think twice before putting their pumpkins in rubbish.

She said: "Children love Halloween and carving up pumpkins is great fun but what's not so fun is throwing all that waste into the bin afterwards. Why not try using the pulp to make a delicious pumpkin soup or, if that's not to your liking, why not compost your lantern and its pulp?

"This will protect the environment, reduce your rubbish and turn it into a resource for your garden. If residents haven't got room for a compost bin, then they should consider having a kitchen waste disposer instead," she added.

Herefordshire Council working in partnership with Worcestershire County Council offers an £80 cashback offer on kitchen sink waste disposers as part of the Sink Your Waste scheme. To find out more or make a claim log onto the website at http://www.sinkyourwaste.com/ or call 01905 766883.