On November 6th, 2021, you could see some of our EEC members and wonderful volunteers out to the parking lot at 6040 N. Clark Street with a GIANT dumpster filled with pumpkins behind them. Thanks to all those who helped us get the word out, we collected 5.83 tons of pumpkins and gourds to be composted which is 3.65 tons MORE than last year!
It was incredible to see the 344 people come up and support sustainability by choosing to reduce landfill input. 34% of the participants already composted at home with many interested in the composting resources we had at the event! It was also great to see State Senator Mike Simmons support by helping out and throwing some pumpkins in himself! :)
Composting not only creates rich, fertile ingredients for healthy soil (and thus, better plants), but it also means less food waste is going into landfills. Instead of food nutrients going back into the ground, it rots, creating methane gas and other greenhouse gases. When released into our atmosphere, these gases trap heat and other harmful health hazards. Composting our seasonal pumpkins is just the first step into incorporating sustainable practices and the reduction of food waste into our normal routines.
Special thanks to the hard work of EEC, the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce and David Oaks, plus our very own Nina Newhouser, Renee Patten, and many others for making our 2021 Pumpkin Smash a HUGE success!
Here are some resources to start composting!:
It was incredible to see the 344 people come up and support sustainability by choosing to reduce landfill input. 34% of the participants already composted at home with many interested in the composting resources we had at the event! It was also great to see State Senator Mike Simmons support by helping out and throwing some pumpkins in himself! :)
Composting not only creates rich, fertile ingredients for healthy soil (and thus, better plants), but it also means less food waste is going into landfills. Instead of food nutrients going back into the ground, it rots, creating methane gas and other greenhouse gases. When released into our atmosphere, these gases trap heat and other harmful health hazards. Composting our seasonal pumpkins is just the first step into incorporating sustainable practices and the reduction of food waste into our normal routines.
Special thanks to the hard work of EEC, the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce and David Oaks, plus our very own Nina Newhouser, Renee Patten, and many others for making our 2021 Pumpkin Smash a HUGE success!
Here are some resources to start composting!:
- Illinois Food Scrap Coalition: illinoiscomposts.org.
- Collective Resource Compost: https://collectiveresource.us/
- BlockBins:https://www.blockbins.com/?gclid=CjwKCAiAv_KMBhAzEiwAs-rX1IBv7nfWXIu2WyjrwQzJmuPIb0GBFNO5ii56DBfxcuz2ZrxTKj-x5hoCmJ8QAvD_BwE
- Waste Not Compost: https://www.wastenotcompost.com/
