What to do with your pumpkin after Halloween

Updated October 2026

Millions of pumpkins are carved in the UK every autumn, and a lot of them end up in the general waste bin. With a little planning, yours doesn’t have to.

If it’s not carved: cook it

An uncarved pumpkin keeps for weeks in a cool, dry place. Roast it, make soup, or use it in curries, risotto or bread. Eating varieties taste best (see carving vs eating pumpkins).

If it’s carved: act quickly

A carved pumpkin starts to go off within days. Cook any good, unwaxed, candle-free flesh straight away, or move on to composting.

Compost it

Chop it into pieces and add it to a home compost heap, or put it in your food or garden waste collection if your council accepts it. Check your council’s website, as rules vary.

Don’t feed it to wildlife

Large amounts of pumpkin aren’t good for hedgehogs and other wildlife, and leftover candle wax and paint make things worse. Compost is the better choice.