Where to Smash Pumpkins in Chicago

Halloween is Tuesday, but what are you going to do with all those pumpkins after? Smash them. That’s the environmentally friendly way to get rid of decaying gourds — and we have a lot of those in Illinois.

Illinois is Top Pumpkin Producer in US

Illinois harvests the most pumpkins in the country by weight and acreage, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That’s because of the soil and weather conditions in the state, especially central Illinois. Morton, which is near Peoria, is called the “pumpkin capital” of the world.

What to Know About Smashing Pumpkins

When jack-o-lanterns get tossed into the trash, they mix with food waste in landfills where they release methane. Composting helps turn the pumpkin chunks into organic material like soil nutrients and mulch, according to WBEZ.

You can dispose of yours Nov. 4:

• 🎃 University of Illinois Extension is hosting events across the city including Avondale, Humboldt Park, Gage Park, and more
• 🎃 The 47th Ward has one in North Center
• 🎃 Roselle Park District has another one in the northwest suburb