FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Treat Your Pumpkin to a Second
Life After Halloween
Waste Management of Orange County invites residents to give pumpkins a postholiday use by disposing of them in their green waste cart for composting
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIF, — Oct. X, 2013 – Pumpkins have long been part of Halloween
celebrations. This year, Waste Management of Orange County invites residents to give
their jack-o-lantern back to mother nature by disposing of it in their green waste cart
where it will be sent off for composting.
“Pumpkins, like organic waste from yards, can be reused as fertilizer to help produce
healthier lawns, plants and flowers,” said Elmer Heap, public sector manager for Waste
Management. “As the nation’s largest residential recycler, Waste Management is always
looking for environmentally positive ways to handle waste in Orange County.”
To properly dispose pumpkins, residents should remove any materials such as candles,
glow sticks and non-vegetative decorations and place the pumpkin in the green waste cart.
“Composting pumpkins after the holiday is just one easy way residents can think green this
Halloween,” added Heap.
The following are additional tips to help reduce, reuse and recycle this Halloween.
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Hold a costume exchange party. Halloween costumes are often worn only once.
By holding a costume exchange party with friends, last year’s outfit can get
another wear and you can get something new, without any waste.
Create your own spooky decorations. Save your wallet from getting the chills by
making your own decorations from repurposed materials. Creating your own hair
raising decorations will put less stress on your wallet, the planet and allow you to
showcase your originality for trick-or-treaters to admire.
Trick or treat with recyclable bags. Canvas, cloth or other reusable bags are an
earth-friendly, and more affordable, alternative to plastic jack-o-lantern buckets.
Or, decorate recyclable bags or old pillowcases with spooky scenes to create a
custom carryall to take home the goodies.
Leave only footprints after trick-or-treating. Dispose of candy wrappers, a big
source of litter on the streets during Halloween, and carry an extra bag and pick
up litter along the way. Your neighbors and the environment will appreciate this
treat.
ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste Management, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of
comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the
company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal
services. It is also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill
gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. The company’s customers include residential,
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Waste Management
Eloisa Orozco
619-778-6303
eorozco1@wm.com
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commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more
information about Waste Management visit www.wm.com or www.thinkgreen.com.
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