CSU's The Audit

Every Halloween, millions of jack-o'-lanterns brighten porches across America. But what happens after the holiday ends is much more trick than treat. Roughly 1 billion pounds of pumpkins are discarded in U.S. landfills each year, where they emit 83 million pounds of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. But what many people see as disposable seasonal décor may actually be an overlooked environmental resource. 

Addy Elliott, a senior instructor for the College of Agricultural Science’s Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, and Environmental Engineering Professor Sybil Sharvelle explore the surprising environmental impact behind Halloween pumpkins and the practical alternatives to the landfill.