The Comox Strathcona Waste Management (CSWM) service is holding its sixth annual Pumpkin Smash, a fun family event which keeps thousands of kilograms of pumpkin – which aren’t being turned into pies or muffins – out of our landfills.
The Pumpkin Smash will take place over two days in Campbell River and in the Comox Valley. In Campbell River, the events are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 2 and Monday, Nov. 5 from noon to 5 p.m. in the parking lot of Strathcona Gardens recreation complex (225 South Dogwood Street). Residents are encouraged to bring their jack-o-lanterns and smash them into compost rather than simply throwing them away.
The CSWM service also invites residents to share a photo of their carved pumpkin before celebrating its last hurrah at one of these events. Simply e-mail a picture of you or a family member with the carved pumpkin to contest@comoxvalleyrd.ca; this makes you eligible for cool eco-friendly prizes and public notoriety by being posted on the CVRD social media sites.
“Over the years many families have come to these community events with some creative and unique carved pumpkins, and the photo contest is an opportunity showcase them in the community,” said Koreen Gurak, CVRD’s manager of communications. “It’s exhilarating to be able to smash your pumpkin and have it turned into nutrient-rich compost rather than having it take up valuable space in our landfills.”
Participants are reminded to remove all objects such as candles and tea lights from their pumpkins prior to smashing. For more information on the pumpkin smash and the pumpkin carving photo contest, visit www.cswm.ca/contest.
The Comox Strathcona Waste Management (CSWM) service is a function of the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) and is responsible for two regional waste management centres that serve the Comox Valley and Campbell River, as well as a range of transfer stations and smaller waste-handling and recycling facilities for the electoral areas of the CVRD and the Strathcona Regional District.
The CSWM service manages over 100,000 tonnes of waste and recycled material and oversees a number of diversion and education programs.