Happy Halloween: Don't Put Pumpkin Stuff In The Sink

SEATTLE — In some ways Halloween is like any seasonal holiday: it's all fun and games until the toilet is clogged.

Picture this common experience. You have just carved a sumptuous and fun pumpkin which will prominently adorn your porch, delight children, and inspire frothing envy in all the Joneses next door. However, after finishing your masterwork you've been left with a mess of seeds and a pile of seaweed-esque stringy orange pulp goop that you must dispose of posthaste.

This is the critical part: do not flush that down the toilet. Do not put it in the sink. Do not somehow cram it into your septic tank. The pulp must not be piped. (Also, seeds)

That's because, according to King County Wastewater Treatment, the pumpkin pulp and seeds can wreak havoc on your home's plumbing.

"Even if you use a garbage disposal, the innards can clog your pipes leading to an expensive unscheduled plumber’s visit and potentially clog sewer pipes," writes King County Wastewater Treatment's Norm Mah.

Instead, experts suggest several alternatives to slamming those pumpkin innards down the toilet:

• Make them into pumpkin pie and toasted pumpkin seeds.
  • Pros: food, cost effective
  • Cons: can be hard to eat the seeds
• Put them in the curbside food scrap bin.
  • Pros: out of your hair
  • Cons: seems defeatist
• Compost them in the backyard.
  • Pros: healthy for nature
  • Cons: yard space is at a premium right now

If you're looking for pumpkin recipes, the city of Sumner has a few on tap:

And for composters, here's King County's Guide to Compost.