JoCo Notes: Where to compost your pumpkins for free in Johnson County

Happy Thursday, Shawnee Mission!

☀️Today’s forecast: Mostly sunny. High: 57. Low: 42.

One thing to know

Don’t just send your lingering jack-o-lanterns and Halloween pumpkin decorations to the landfill — compost them. 

Here’s a look at some free pumpkin composting opportunities across Johnson County, plus some other options: 

Lenexa

• Through Nov. 30, Lenexa is accepting pumpkins for composting at Little Mill Creek North Park. 
• There’s a special dumpster in the parking lot at 7898 Cottonwood St. 
• The city plans to use the pumpkin-based compost in city parks. 

Overland Park 

• Take pumpkins to the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens east parking lot for composting. 
• People can bring the Halloween gourds to the arboretum — 8909 W 179th St — through Nov. 22. 
• The compost will be used in the gardens, a city announcement says. 

Other composting opportunities

• Olathe residents can put their pumpkins out with their yard waste for curbside pickup. 
• Additionally, people can bring pumpkins for composting to the Corinth Shopping Center on Nov. 4 between 10 a.m and 2 p.m. as part of the KC Can Compost collection event called “The Great Pumpkin Rescue.” There’s a $3 fee for the first two pumpkins, plus $1 fee for each pumpkin after that. 

Public meetings Thursday

• Johnson County Board of County Commissioners at 9:30 a.m. [View agenda]
• Overland Park Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee at 6 p.m. [View agenda]
• Roeland Park Sustainability Committee 6:15 p.m. [View agenda] 
• Overland Park Legacy of Greenery Committee 6:30 p.m. [Viea agenda]  

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A thousand words

Patrons cross the bridge on a trail in the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens on a sunny afternoon. Photo credit Kaylie McLaughlin.