It’s the 2nd annual Pumpkin Smashing Extravaganza, a community event focused on sustainability and fun! Join the City of Traverse City, Carter’s Compost, and SEEDS on Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the City’s in-vessel composting unit, located at 143 Beitner, next to the City’s DPS Facility on Woodmere. This free event will welcome the public to smash their pumpkins at various activity stations. Sign up to volunteer here!

Pumpkin drop-off will be allowed from November 1st, and will continue until 1:00 pm on November 8th. Pumpkins should be free of any decorations and paint.

The City’s 20-yard in-vessel composting unit is a key part of the City’s Compost and Food Waste Reduction project. This fully enclosed system, ideal for urban settings, can process approximately 100 tons of food waste annually.
The City aims to divert 3 tons of pumpkins from landfills. With 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins produced annually in the U.S., many end up in landfills, contributing to methane emissions—landfills account for 20% of the U.S.’s methane output. Composting pumpkins helps reduce greenhouse gases, diverts waste, and returns nutrients to the soil, improving environmental health. This event is part of the City’s ongoing efforts to reduce emissions and educate the public on how they can make incremental steps toward food waste reduction.