Michigan is in the top five pumpkin-producing states in the US, but after Halloween, the majority of pumpkins end up in landfills.
The state is now asking residents to consider alternatives for leftover pumpkins this season.
The EPA Food Recovery Hierarchy ranks landfills as the worst place for food to go — and puts feeding people and animals toward the top of the list.
Recipes like pumpkin puree and roasted pumpkin seeds can prevent nutrients from going to waste, but livestock and wildlife will also gladly accept uneaten pumpkins.
Residents are encouraged to compost pumpkins at home or with a commercial food waste service.
Americans send more than a billion pounds of pumpkins to landfills every year, where they contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
