Halloween is here, and that means your pumpkins have been carved and proudly displayed! But as November 1st approaches, many people are tempted to toss their festive gourds into the trash. Hold on now!  Not so fast.

Once Halloween is over, your beautiful jack-o’-lanterns often get dumped in landfills. That's such a bad idea.

That's why trash day is the worst day to throw out pumpkins.  Get better use out of them, please!  I have a few ideas for you.

Related: One Thing Illinois Residents Should Never Do With Old Pumpkins

Instead of tossing them, consider feeding wildlife!

Your Jack 'O Lantern or porch decoration can feed livestock a lot.  Pumpkins have vitamin E, A, protein, and fiber in them. The seeds act as a natural dewormer, did you know that?!

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Maybe you can't get to a farm.  I can't, so how about joining the Discovery Center's annual Smashing Pumpkins event? You can launch your pumpkins in a slingshot, sending them into smithereens.  Better than nothing! 

Related: Rockford’s Popular Smashing Pumpkins Event is Back

Or, if you have a garden, use your pumpkins as fertilizer.

Don’t let your pumpkins end up in a landfill—share them with nature, smash them for fun, or recycle them into your garden. Celebrate sustainability and give your pumpkins a second life!

Get creative, don't be lazy.  Save the planet!