North Raleigh Today

Items such as pumpkins, batteries, and grease can cause problems if not disposed of correctly. The following guidelines offer ways to ensure safe disposal.

Pumpkins are often discarded after Halloween, contributing to 1.3 billion pounds ending up in landfills each year. When decomposing in landfills, they emit methane, a gas significantly more potent than carbon dioxide. To mitigate this impact, there are several environmentally friendly options for disposing of pumpkins.

Firstly, when carving jack-o-lanterns, the seeds can be saved and roasted for a healthy snack. Additionally, hollow pumpkins can serve as biodegradable pots when filled with soil and plants. For composting at home, jack-o-lanterns make excellent additions; however, any non-biodegradable materials like candle wax or glitter should be removed beforehand.

For those without home composting options, Wake County Convenience Center offers compost drop-off sites where undecorated pumpkins can be taken. Cutting the pumpkin into smaller pieces helps maximize space in compost carts. Locations for drop-offs can be found using Raleigh Reuse's Waste Wizard by searching "pumpkins" or "food scraps."

Some local farmers accept pumpkins as livestock treats; interested individuals can visit Pumpkins for Pigs to find participating farms nearby.

Toward Zero Waste is hosting a "Smash Don't Trash" event at the Midtown Farmers Market on November 2nd where people can bring their pumpkins for composting. Last year's event saw over 1,418 pounds of pumpkins collected and composted.

Improper disposal of batteries poses risks to both human health and the environment due to hazardous chemicals like mercury and lead leaching into groundwater from landfills. Lithium batteries are particularly dangerous as they can ignite fires at Materials Recovery Facilities or even melt garbage trucks.

Batteries contain valuable minerals such as lithium and cobalt that can be reused. The Waste Wizard tool provides information on locations where batteries can be safely disposed of to recover these important materials.

Grease also presents challenges when improperly discarded down drains. Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) cool down and stick to pipes along with other items like flushable wipes forming blockages known as fatbergs which cause sewer backups and overflows.

To prevent these issues, fats should never be poured down sinks or toilets; instead wiping small amounts with paper towels before discarding them in trash is recommended while larger quantities may either be stored in jars within refrigerators for reuse or dropped off at Wake County Recycling Facilities alternatively scheduling free pickups via Solid Waste Services is possible too whereby collected FOG gets refined into biofuel aiding environmental efforts alongside maintaining clear drainage systems.

For additional tips regarding seasonal waste disposal subscribing to Talking Trash - SWS’s monthly newsletter provides helpful insights accessible through My Raleigh Subscriptions by entering an email address scrolling down under Newsletters section checking “Solid Waste Services News And Events.”