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Pumpkin Composting
What is the Pumpkin Smash?
The Pumpkin Smash is an annual effort by communities to divert pumpkins from landfills by providing locations for residents to drop-off jack-o-lanterns to be composted. It is held each year the Saturday after Halloween. Don’t Trash it, Smash it!
2021 Lake County Pumpkin Collection Event Locations
Adler Park Pool Parking Lot
Saturday, November 6, 2021
9 am to 4:00 pm
1500 North Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville, IL 60048
Sponsored by: Sustain Libertyville Commission
College of Lake County
Saturday, November 6, 2021
9 am to Noon
19351 West Washington Street, Grayslake, IL 60030
Sponsored by: CLC Sustainability Council
Daniel Barry Skate Park Parking Lot
Saturday, November 6, 2021
9 am to Noon
Across from Grayslake Library, 100 Library Lane, Grayslake, IL 60030
Sponsored by Grayslake Central High School, Village of Grayslake and Grayslake Public Library
Village of Gurnee - Village Hall Parking Lot
Saturday, November 6, 2021
9 am to Noon
325 N. O’Plaine Road, Gurnee, IL 60031
Mundelein Park District – Keith Mione Community Park
Sunday, November 7, 2021
9 am to Noon
1401 North Midlothian Road, Mundelein, IL 60060
Prairieland Disposal
Now through November 30, 2021
Weekdays 7am – 5 pm
Saturdays 7 am – 3 pm
21988 N. Pepper Road, Lake Barrington, IL
(847) 381-9300
More information (PDF)
Vernon Hills Park District - Maintenance Building
Friday, November 5, 2021
7:30 am – 4 pm
1400 Indianwood Drive, Vernon Hills, IL 60061
Health & Safety Precautions: All attendees must wear a mask over their nose and mouth and practice social distancing. Please do not attend if you or someone in your household is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. Thank you for ensuring this is a safe event!
Host a Pumpkin Smash
Host a Pumpkin Smash in your town to help your neighbors green their Halloween. Download and review the guide to hosting your own Pumpkin Smash and then register your site.
Download the Guide
DON'T TRASH IT SMASH IT - Why Keep Pumpkins Out of the Landfill?
Composting is nature’s way of recycling with many benefits:
- Avoids landfill greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing organics (currently, landfills are the 3rd largest producers of methane in the U.S.!)
- Produces a useful, nutrient-dense soil amendment
Pumpkins are 90% water which is great for our soil, not so good in our landfills
More Information
For more information contact SWALCO at (847) 377-4950.