HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - The city of Hastings is helping residents dispose of their pumpkins as fall turns into winter.

Two dumpsters are available for residents to throw away their old pumpkins at the Aqua-Court parking lot through 5 p.m. until Sunday Nov. 30.

The city provides this service to help residents safely recycle pumpkins and compost the remains. Pumpkins that go to landfills release methane and harmful leachate, also known as garbage tea, as they rot.

The city of Hastings has recorded a very successful year so far with the program.

“So our first weekend this fall, right after Halloween, we had just under 5,000 pounds of pumpkins and gourds left, which is about twice as many as we had during our first weekend in 2024,” said Tony Herrman, Hastings public information manager. “

See Full Page