Pasadena Asks Residents to Compost Halloween Pumpkins

The city is urging residents to place old pumpkins in organics bins to meet state waste reduction goals.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Organic Food

Bold vector editorial illustration showing a single orange pumpkin inside a dark green waste bin, symbolizing community composting efforts. — Pasadena Public Works is urging residents to recycle their Halloween pumpkins through city-provided organic waste bins to help meet state-mandated landfill diversion goals. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you support mandatory local requirements for residents to separate food scraps for composting?

Pasadena Public Works is encouraging residents to dispose of unbagged Halloween pumpkins in their yard waste containers rather than trash bins. This initiative supports the city's efforts to divert organic material from landfills.

Why it matters

Organic waste in landfills decomposes to produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas that California is working to reduce. By composting pumpkins, residents help the city meet state-mandated targets to lower organic waste disposal.

Pasadena residents should remove all candles and decorations from pumpkins before placing them in organics bins. Landfills in California are responsible for 20 percent of the state's total methane pollution.

The players

Pasadena Public Works

This city agency manages essential municipal services including waste collection, street maintenance, and environmental recycling programs.

Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts

This special district is responsible for the regional management of solid waste and wastewater treatment facilities across the county.

The details

Once collected, food waste is ground into a bioslurry for processing at a Water Resource Recovery Facility in Carson. Solids remaining from this process are then sent to a Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts facility for final composting.

2016: The California Legislature approved Senate Bill 1383.
January 1, 2020: Tracking for yard waste composting began.
January 1, 2022: The mandatory food waste recycling program took effect.
January 1, 2024: Local enforcement of state organic mandates began.
August 30, 2024: The reporting period for waste diversion concluded.

Culture Shift

The city's current composting efforts are a direct operational response to the state-wide targets established by Senate Bill 1383. This shift reflects a broader societal move toward circular waste management as cities aim to mitigate the environmental impact of urban methane production.

Residents should ensure that pumpkins are unbagged and stripped of all decorations before placing them in their designated yard waste bins. Proper disposal at home helps the city maintain compliance with state regulations and prevents organic material from ending up in local landfills.

The takeaway

Diverting pumpkins from the trash is a simple way for households to support renewable energy production and lower regional greenhouse gas emissions. Residents can easily integrate this habit into their post-holiday cleanup routine to benefit the local environment.