ELMSDALE: Instead of ending up in the garbage or compost, hundreds of Halloween pumpkins are finding a second life thanks to a community initiative that is helping reduce waste while providing a tasty treat for the animals at Moo Nay Farms.
Leno’s has partnered with Red-E Bins N.S. to provide a collection bin where residents can drop off their leftover Halloween pumpkins. The collected pumpkins are then donated to Moo Nay Farms, where they are used as feed for the pigs and other farm animals.
The initiative has been running for approximately five or six years through the partnership, although Melvin Burns of Moo Nay Farms said he had been collecting pumpkins for the animals at the farm for eight to 10 years.
“We take all the pumpkins and we donate them to Moo Nay Farms. Carved or uncarved, and the animals use them as their feed,” said Kayla Walt of Leno’s Stop Shop.
The response from the community has been encouraging.
This year, the collection had already filled an initial three five-yard bin before a 10-yard bin was brought in to accommodate the additional pumpkins.
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The fourth bin was filling quickly, with organizers hopeful they would be able to fill at least one more.
For Burns, the benefits go well beyond providing food for the farm animals.
“It’s good for the farm animals for sure. I think it’s better for the community in general,” Burns said.
He noted that pumpkins are a food product that are often purchased for seasonal fun before being discarded. When thrown away, they must be collected and disposed of, adding to the workload and costs associated with municipal waste and composting facilities.
Burns said those disposal costs can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars for taxpayers.
The pumpkin collection provides an opportunity for residents to help reduce that waste while giving the pumpkins another purpose.
“It’s really nice because we are able to give back to the community, feed the farm animals and prevent the pumpkins from just being thrown away,” said Andy Uzick of Red-E Bins N.S.
Video of the dumping of some pumpkins made by Leno’s
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Organizers say the initiative is also about giving back to the community, keeping streets clean and finding ways to help local farm animals.
Looking ahead, Walt and Uzick hope to build on the initiative next year through additional advertising and signage to make more residents aware of the collection.
The goal is to make it an annual community event that people can look forward to after Halloween.
The collection bin was expected to remain available through the weekend and possibly until the following Monday, giving residents a little extra time to drop off their pumpkins.
Thanks to the efforts of Leno’s, Red-E Bins N.S., Moo Nay Farms and the community, Halloween pumpkins are getting a second chance, this time as a meal for some very happy pigs.
