Smashing pumpkins coming to Houston: Sorry, folks -- pumpkin composting, not the band

A squirrel stands on pumpkins carved into Halloween jack-o'-lanterns October 25, 2004 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle, 2004 Getty Images)

HOUSTON – Bad news and good news, friends: The beloved band is not coming to Houston, but the green effort designed to create nutrient-rich compost with your discarded gourds is most definitely coming to H-Town this fall.

Solid Waste Management Department is encouraging Houstonians to compost their wilting jack-o-lanterns and various decorative gourds after Halloween.

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“Halloween pumpkins are festive and fun! But let’s face it when they’re done, they’re done,” Council Member Sallie Alcorn said via a news release. “When the time comes to dispose of your pumpkins, don’t throw them in the trash and add them to our landfills. Drop them off with the city, and we’ll take them to be turned into nutrient-rich compost!”

Pumpkin drop-off will be available at the City of Houston Reuse Warehouse at 9003 N Main St, Houston, TX 77022 from Nov. 1-4. Hours for the event are 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Retired jack-o-lanterns, whole pumpkins, seeds, and pumpkin guts will be accepted. Please remove any costumes and pumpkin decorations before dropping off your pumpkins.

Last year’s composting pilot program diverted over 14,000 pounds of organic waste from Houston’s landfills.