Pumpkins were crushed in a shopping center park in Winnipeg on Saturday as part of an annual event aimed at reducing landfill waste.

The Green Action Center’s Pumpkin Drop returned to the Polo Park mall for its fourth year, giving people a fun chance to get rid of leftover pumpkins after Halloween.

“We pick these pumpkins and some of them go to the Little Red Barn animal sanctuary to feed the animals,” said Karrie Blackburn, Compost Winnipeg’s sales and customer service leader. “All of the pumpkins carved into Jack-O’-Lanterns then go to the compost pile to be turned into finished compost, which returns those nutrients to the food system.”

Blackburn said thousands of pumpkins are seen at the event each year and continue to grow with each drop.

“We easily get 2,000 to 3,000 pumpkins,” he said.

Before falling from the second floor of the hardwood floor, the pumpkins are inspected to make sure they are free of debris such as wax, glitter or googly eyes.

Once the compost is placed in Winnipeg’s collection bin, it is taken to a facility where it is composted over three to six months.

The compost is then used to improve landfills; garbage dumps are being converted into green spaces such as parks, similar to Garbage Hill.

“Our landfills cannot simply be left unmanaged,” Blackburn said. “They need to be looked after, and turning them into green space by covering them with finished compost is a great way to do that.”

For those who missed the event, Blackburn said they can add the pumpkins to the City of Winnipeg leaf and yard waste or take them to any community drop-off point in the city. You can find more information on the city’s website. website.