Now that the tricks and treats of Halloween have past, it is time to find a new use for your holiday decorations.

“It is the time of year when Jack-O-Lanterns end up dying a slow death,” Madison Recycling Coordinator George Dreckmann said. “Rather than tossing your pumpkins in the trash, Madison residents should place their pumpkins next to or on top of their leaf piles so they can be composted.”

City of Madison residents should place their pumpkins at the curb along with their leaves for collection. Leaves should be placed in piles at the street edge for collection. Residents who must bag their leaves should place their pumpkins on the ground next to their bagged leaves.

In addition to collecting pumpkins, City of Madison crews will also collect other organic Halloween/Fall decorations such as cornstalks and straw as part of the leaf collection.

Residents can get complete information on fall leaf collection at www.cityofmadison.com/streets or by calling 267-2088.