The humble pumpkin has become a staple in all things Halloween.  Over 10 million pumpkins are grown in the UK, with 95% sold for Halloween carving. They make great decorations, but did you know you can eat the flesh and seeds too?

With 42% of people buying a pumpkin in the UK, a scary 18,000 tonnes of edible pumpkin ends up in the bin each year. That’s the same weight as 1,500 double decker buses!

Think of all the land and energy used to grow and transport our pumpkins every year, just for them to end up in the bin. It’s a frightening thought.

Love Halloween, Hate Waste!

Pumpkins are a real vegetable powerhouse! They’re cheap, nutritious, delicious, grow abundantly in the UK and can be cooked a thousand ways. 

If you’re planning to buy a pumpkin, here are some top tips to get your money’s worth and reduce waste at the same time:

• Scoop out the flesh and use to make delicious pumpkin soup, pie, wedges and pasta sauce. Check out these pumpkin recipes for inspiration! Eat your pumpkin and join the pumpkin rescue (hubbub.org.uk)
• Remove pumpkin seeds and roast for a superfood snack or use in muesli, smoothies, bread baking or toppings on savoury dishes for a vitamin and mineral boost.
• After Halloween, smash your pumpkin into small pieces – a great activity for children – and add to your garden compost bin.  Smaller pieces will rot down quicker than large chunks. 
• Alternatively pop it in or on top of your food waste caddy. It can be used to generate energy and fertiliser for agriculture. It doesn’t need to be cut up for this.

Every pumpkin eaten is a step towards tackling the 7.1 million tonnes of food and drink that is thrown away from UK homes every year.

For more information about reducing waste this Halloween and beyond, visit our Love Food, Hate Waste pages here Love Food Hate Waste