Missoula to Recycle Halloween Pumpkins for Livestock Feed

Turner Farms and Soil Cycle will collect pumpkins in November 2026 to feed local livestock.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Organic Food

Screen-print poster illustration of orange pumpkins piled on autumn soil, evoking a community-led sustainability and food recycling program. — Missoula residents can drop off spent Halloween pumpkins at designated Soil Cycle sites in November 2026 to be repurposed as livestock feed. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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In November 2026, Turner Farms will partner with Soil Cycle to collect spent Halloween pumpkins from the Missoula community. These pumpkins will be repurposed as feed for livestock instead of being sent to local landfills.

Why it matters

This initiative provides a sustainable way to manage holiday waste while simultaneously supporting local agricultural feed needs. By diverting organic material from landfills, the program helps reduce methane emissions associated with decomposing food waste.

Soil Cycle manages multiple community drop-off locations for pumpkin disposal. Turner Farms processes these donations throughout November 2026 to support their livestock feed requirements.

The players

Turner Farms

Turner Farms is an agricultural operation that provides livestock feed and works to divert local organic waste from the waste stream.

Soil Cycle

Soil Cycle is a community organization that operates local collection locations to facilitate the recycling of organic materials.

The details

Residents can utilize designated Soil Cycle collection points to donate their pumpkins after the holiday. Turner Farms will then transport these materials to their facility to serve as a supplemental food source for their animals.

November 2026 is the scheduled window for Turner Farms to process the pumpkins as feed.

Culture Shift

This program aligns with the EPA's wasted food recovery hierarchy by prioritizing animal feed over landfill disposal. It reflects a broader movement toward circular waste management, where local communities actively seek to bridge the gap between household consumption and agricultural utility.

Residents can prepare for the initiative by ensuring their pumpkins are free of non-compostable decorations before dropping them off at collection points. This effort provides a simple way for households to support local farm sustainability without requiring significant changes to their daily routines.

The takeaway

Repurposing seasonal waste into agricultural feed demonstrates how community partnerships can effectively lower landfill contributions. Residents should check local drop-off guidelines to ensure their participation helps rather than hinders the collection process.