Now that the goblins and ghouls that were out demanding tricks or treats from homeowners have slunk back into their lairs until next year, what do we do with all these jack-o-lanterns that festooned our porches?
 
We should send them to meet their composter so they can push up daisies from the great beyond and feed the worms!
 
This, of course, means that City of Madison residents should place their pumpkins at the curb along with their leaves for collection this fall.  Leaves should be placed in piles at the street edge for collection with the pumpkins on top.  The leaves and yard waste pile should not be placed in the street or gutter. Residents who elect bag their leaves should place their pumpkins on the ground next to their bagged leaves. Those who bag their leaves are reminded to leave the bags open at the top so crews can identify what is inside the bag.
 
Alternatively, your pumpkins could surrender their nutrients and join the choir invisible in residents’ very own back yard compost bin.  Pumpkins are a great source of nitrogen for the backyard piles.
 
In addition to collecting pumpkins, City of Madison crews will also collect other organic Halloween/Fall decorations such as other decorative gourds, corn stalks, and straw as part of the leaf and  collection. You may also bring this material to our yard waste drop off sites at 1501 W. Badger Rd., 4602 Sycamore Ave, or 402 South Point Rd.   The sites are presently open from 8:30am to 4:30pm seven days a week and until 8:00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  These hours will remain in effect until Sunday, December 4.
 
Every fall, Madison discards tons and tons of pumpkins. Putting your jack-o-lanterns, and the other compostable decorations, out with your leaf piles keeps a compostable resource out of the landfill, and helps save tax dollars.
 
Residents can get complete information on fall leaf collection, including estimates on when crews will be collecting from your neighborhood at the Streets Division website or by calling 267-2088.