10,000 Pounds Of Pumpkins Composted Since Halloween

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Annapolis residents have composted more than 10,000 pounds of pumpkins since Nov. 5, a report said. The first three tons came after Halloween. The remaining 4,000 pounds flowed in after Thanksgiving.

Annapolis Green, an environmental nonprofit, teamed with the city government to organize the effort. The city hoped the initiative, called the Great Pumpkin Dropoff, would gauge local interest in composting. Elvia Thompson, president and co-founder of Annapolis Green, was encouraged by the results.

"Considering that these numbers reflect only Halloween and Thanksgiving, just imagine how many tons of food waste is dumped into the landfill every week," Thompson said in a press release. "This makes clear that our community wants to compost its food waste."

Annapolitans dropped off their pumpkins at Truxton Park. Annapolis Green volunteers pulled out the usable pumpkins to donate to the Anne Arundel County Food Bank.

Workers then took the remains to the Veteran Compost farm in northern Maryland. Farmers added the pumpkins to a large pile of food waste and mixed in wood chips.

They will stir the compost regularly. After two months, it will be ready to use as natural fertilizer.

Annapolis Green is selling the compost as a holiday gift. Because the process won't be done before the New Year, the gift will include a certificate for a 15-pound bag of the sweet-smelling fertilizer.

Buyers will also get:

• Two reusable food storage wraps from Half Moon Wax Wraps
• A coupon for an organic pumpkin spice smoothie from Rasa Juice Shop
• A sweet soil boost from Honey's Harvest Farm

The $34.95 gift raises money for Annapolis Green. The organization also sells single bags of the compost for $10. Both are available for purchase at this link.

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