News

Compost that jack-o-lantern at county recycling center

By Lightning Reports, Published: October 31, 2021

Between Halloween and Thanksgiving, there will be plenty of jack-o-lanterns and fall squash leftover, so don’t let them meet a spooky end in the landfill. Instead, compost them with Henderson County Solid Waste.

From Nov. 1 to Dec. 3, residents may bring leftover pumpkins and decorative squash to a special dumpster at the Henderson County Convenience Center. Since September 2018, county residents have deposited more than 83 tons of food waste into the bins at the recycling center as part of the Food Waste pilot program. Previously, this material has been taken to a private compost facility in Spartanburg, S.C., but now the collected food waste and pumpkins are being composted on-site at the county’s Compost Facility pilot, the first municipal Type 3 compost facility in Western North Carolina. The pumpkins will be mixed with other organic materials, and eventually, become a valuable soil amendment. Providing this voluntary collection option is part of the Solid Waste Division’s long-term waste reduction strategy.

The food waste and pumpkin collection program are for use by Henderson County residents. No household trash or recycling is acceptable in the food waste collection bins or pumpkin dumpster. Only organic materials are acceptable. Please remove any candles or other items. The Convenience Center, at 265 Convenience Center Drive, is open 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information on this and other recycling programs, visit hcrecycles.org or call (828) 694-6524.