This Halloween, Bowling Green is giving your pumpkin a second life. In partnership with Compost BG and Warren County, the city is hosting the “Great Pumpkin Drop” on Nov. 1 (8 a.m.–12 p.m.) and Nov. 2 (12–4 p.m.) at two designated sites: Lovers Lane Soccer Complex (behind the maintenance shop dumpster) and Preston Miller Park (pool-parking-lot trailer).
Residents are asked to remove candles, plastic decorations and other non-organic items before dropping their pumpkins into compost bins.
Every year, pumpkins and gourds contribute significantly to landfill waste—and by extension to greenhouse-gas emissions when they break down anaerobically.
Compost BG, Warren County’s first organics-recycling service, has been offering drop-off and collection services locally for food scraps and organic waste.
By redirecting old jack-o-lanterns to composting, the city hopes to reduce waste, recycle nutrients back into soil, and engage community members in sustainable practices.
Instead of worrying about where to toss the post-Halloween pumpkin, locals can drop it off for free composting. It’s a hands-on way for households — schools, youth groups, families — to participate in sustainability. The collected pumpkins will be processed into nutrient-rich compost that can support gardens, green spaces and local landscaping.
The event raises awareness of Compost BG’s services for residents and businesses of Warren County.
What to note (drop-off guidance):
Remove all candles, wax, plastic decorations, paints and non-organic attachments before dropping off.
Drop-off locations:
Lovers Lane Soccer Complex, Nov 1 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
Preston Miller Park, Nov 2 12–4 p.m.
Make sure pumpkins are clean (no glitter, stickers, tinsel) so the composting process remains effective.
If you’re unable to attend the drop dates, check with Compost BG for alternative drop-off options or future events.
This simple act of dropping off your pumpkin can ripple out—reducing waste, enriching local soil, and empowering the Bowling Green community to embrace composting as a regular habit. Don’t let your post-Halloween gourd go to the landfill—let it go back to the earth and grow something better.
