Residents can turn their leftover jack-o'-lanterns into compost at a free Pumpkin Smash event next month in Macomb. University of Illinois Extension and the Macomb Park District will host the event Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Veterans Park in Macomb, according to Illinois Extension.

Participation is free and no registration is required, the release said. Organizers say the event offers a fun, family-friendly alternative to throwing pumpkins in the trash.

According to Extension, pumpkins that end up in landfills decompose and produce greenhouse gases and polluted runoff that can affect nearby waterways. Bringing pumpkins to the event reduces that waste and supports healthier soil through composting.

How to participate

  • Collect pumpkins from home, school, workplaces or neighborhood displays.
  • Remove all non-organic materials such as candles, ribbons, paint or decorations.
  • Drop off pumpkins at the designated site during the event.
  • Smash or deposit pumpkins according to the site's setup. Organizers say past events have used a catapult or dropped pumpkins from a cherry picker.
  • After the event, pumpkins are transported to a composting facility.

Extension says those who cannot attend can still compost pumpkins at home, which enriches soil and avoids methane production.

About Pumpkin Smash

According to the release, Pumpkin Smashes began in 2014 through SCARCE, an Illinois environmental nonprofit focused on waste reduction and education. Illinois Extension joined the effort in 2019 and helped expand events statewide. Extension says the events have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 1,200 tons of carbon dioxide and diverted more than 345,000 gallons of water from entering landfills.

A full list of statewide events and a map of Pumpkin Smash locations are available through Illinois Extension and SCARCE. The local Extension office serving Henderson, Knox, McDonough and Warren counties is at 3022 West Jackson, Macomb, and can be reached at 309-837-3939.

Those who need a reasonable accommodation to participate can email uie-hkmw@illinois.edu, the release said.