More than 24million pumpkins thrown away every autumn as only 37% of Brits eat them

Environmental campaigners are urging Brits to decorate their pumpkins this Halloween rather than carve them

A total of 24.5 million pumpkins will end up in the bin this Halloween and get left to rot in landfill adding to the climate crisis, warn campaigners. It is estimated that nearly 39 million pumpkins will be bought this year but only 37% will be eaten - worth an estimated £41.3 million.

But environmental campaigners are asking Brits this year to decorate, rather than carve so that the flesh can make it onto our plates and stay out of the bin.

Hubbub has partnered with food writer and author of Don’t Waste Your Pumpkin, Emily Gussin. Their campaign aims to save more than 146 million meals-worth of pumpkin from going to waste.

Mark Breen, Senior Creative Partner at Hubbub said “The fact over a quarter of UK kids have never eaten a pumpkin has spooked me as they’re so tasty. Last Halloween, 69% of pumpkins bought were carved, which makes them much more likely to go to waste. So, this year, whether you turn your pumpkin into a minion or even your favourite celeb, give decorating a go.

“It’s fun, less messy and safer than carving. It’ll mean your pumpkin lasts longer - so you can turn the seeds into a pesto and the flesh into pumpkin gingerbread or the star of a risotto, once the Halloween decorations have been taken down.”

Emily Gussin, food writer and author of Don’t Waste Your Pumpkin added: “Pumpkin is a bit of an unsung hero in my eyes. It’s visually one of the most iconic vegetables of autumn, so it’s a travesty that they’re mostly wasted. The sweet nutty taste of pumpkin is the perfect warmer for the season and it’s incredibly versatile. You can use it to make everything from soup to cheesecakes, adding beautiful flavour and nutrition to every bite.”

Hubbub’s campaign comes alongside a warning from ecologists not to dump pumpkins after use in fields and woodlands. It comes after a social media trend which recommends “recycling” pumpkins by leaving them in the countryside or woodland. Experts stress that this could be harmful to wildlife including hedgehogs, foxes and badgers.

Andrew Ward from Arbtech said: “Pumpkins are not a natural food source for most wildlife and can make animals feel unwell and spread diseases. “Any discarded pumpkin intended for wildlife should be cut into little pieces and left in small quantities. These should be placed on a raised platform such as a bird table so that hedgehogs are unable to access them.

“Most pumpkins will also have been decorated in some way, and this has the potential to become a leading cause of spreading disease amongst wildlife in the post Halloween period. If the pumpkin has contained candles then they should not be left for wildlife at all as the soot and residue from the candles may be harmful. They might also ingest foreign objects like candle holders.

“As well as animals, pumpkins can cause problems to the ecosystem if they are left to rot. As they decompose, they can attract pests like rats, which may carry diseases or negatively impact native wildlife.”

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR PUMPKIN

1. Decorate your pumpkin instead of carving. It will be more likely to stay fresh to eat
2. Use edible glue to stick paper and card. Icing sugar mixed with water works well
3. You can eat every part, except the stalk. Dried pumpkin seeds can be added to salads or make a great pesto
4. Dishes can be sweet or savoury. Roast wedges or use to make cakes and pies