The City of Columbus Division of Refuse Collection is running a free seasonal drop-off program for pumpkins and campaign yard signs at three locations through late November, according to a city bulletin.
Two sites—Alum Creek Waste and Reuse Convenience Center, 2100 Alum Creek Dr., and Georgesville Waste and Reuse Convenience Center, 1550 Georgesville Rd.—accept both pumpkins and signs. The bulletin lists Tuesday-through-Saturday hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Oct. 30 through Nov. 29.
Pumpkins alone are accepted at the Stephen R. Lennon Refuse Collection Station. The city lists weekday hours of 8 a.m. to noon from Oct. 30 through Nov. 27, plus Saturday hours on Nov. 7 and Nov. 28. Candles must be removed, and pumpkins or gourds that are painted or marked with permanent marker are not allowed.
Paper or cardboard yard signs may go into residents’ blue recycling containers. Plastic signs and metal wires are to be taken to the convenience centers, which also accept nonworking holiday string lights for recycling.
The city says the seasonal collection has diverted more than 35 tons of pumpkins to composting since it began four years ago. Columbus says the purpose is to keep methane from being released as the organic material breaks down.