Keep Halloween waste out of the landfill; RDCO urges

The Regional District of Central Okanagan is reminding residents to compost their pumpkins and recycle candy wrappers and other flexible plastics to reduce Halloween waste.

Unpainted pumpkins can go in backyard composters or green-lidded curbside yard waste carts, provided candles and non-organic decorations are removed first.

Chopping pumpkins into smaller pieces and mixing them with dry leaves helps them break down more quickly, producing nutrient-rich compost for spring gardens, says Cynthia Coates, the regional district’s solid waste services supervisor.

Yard waste collection continues through the end of December, giving residents extra time to dispose of their pumpkins properly.