NEW BEDFORD,Mass. – October 22, 2025 – This Halloween, New Bedford residents have several easy, eco-friendly ways to keep pumpkins and cornstalks out of the trash — including curbside yard waste pickup, dropping them off at the City of New Bedford’s Recycling Center, or composting at home.
“Composting pumpkins and cornstalks help conserve space in the Crapo Hill Landfill while returning valuable nutrients to the soil and supporting a more sustainable local environment,” said Jennifer Vieira, Director of Facilities & Fleet Management. “We encourage New Bedford residents to make use of the City’s composting programs this season — whether through curbside pickup, drop-off, or backyard composting — and take part in keeping our community healthy and resilient.”
Set Out for Weekly Yard Waste Pickup
Capitol Waste Services will collect unpainted pumpkins and cornstalks along with grass, leaves, and small twigs (no thicker than 1/4 inch) on your yard waste collection day. Yard waste is collected on the weekday after trash and recycling. For example, if your trash and recycling are collected on Fridays, your yard waste will be collected on Monday. Even if you do not have other yard waste, place pumpkins and cornstalks in a paper yard waste bag or loose in a barrel (not in City-issued trash or recycling carts) and set it at the curb by 7 a.m. on your yard waste collection day. Please do not make bags or barrels too heavy. Yard waste collection ends for the season the week of December 15, 2025.
The yard waste from New Bedford residents is delivered to the Crapo Hill Landfill where it is composted. Please remove all non-compostable items from jack-o’-lanterns and cornstalks, including lights, candles, twine, rope, and wire.
For questions about curbside collection, call Capitol Waste Services at (855) 533-3400.
Drop Off at Recycling Center
Unpainted pumpkins and cornstalks can be dropped off at the Recycling Center located at 1103 Shawmut Avenue. Check in with the Recycling Center Attendant before placing them in the grass and leaves section of the yard waste area at the Recycling Center. The Recycling Center hours are:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 12 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and
- Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Please follow the same preparation guidelines as for curbside collection.
Compost in Backyard Bin
Unpainted pumpkins and cornstalks can be placed in your backyard compost bin along with fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, grass, leaves, and twigs. The Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District sells low-cost backyard compost bins to New Bedford residents year-round. Purchase a compost bin at the Crapo Hill Landfill scale house, 300 Samuel Barnet Blvd., New Bedford:
- Monday through Friday 7:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and
- Saturday 8:00 – 10:45 a.m.
The Earth Machine and the New Age Composter are both available at a cost of $25 each. Cash, check, or money order only. No credit or debit cards.
Contact the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District by email at Marissa@gnbrrmdistrict.org, by phone at (508) 979-1493 or by text at (774) 503-0254 about composting, recycling, or waste reduction.