Community members can rescue their Halloween pumpkins and jack-o’-lanterns from withering on the front porch or ending up in the landfill by participating in the City's 5th annual “It's the Great Pumpkin Compost” collection event. The free “drive-up, drop-off” event provides residents without a food and yard waste cart an opportunity to have their pumpkins composted.

Plain, clean pumpkins of any size will be accepted, as well as pumpkins painted with acrylic paint. Pumpkins contaminated with candle wax, stickers, or decorations of any type will not be accepted. No other organic material may be dropped off.

To drop off pumpkins at the collection event, community members should enter the Morton Civic Center parking lot at the corner of Asbury Avenue and Simpson Street. The north parking lot entrance off of Leonard Place will be blocked.

Participants must follow all City of Evanston, IDPH and CDC guidelines including wearing a face covering and keeping a social distance of at least six feet from others.