Pumpkins are a staple of Halloween. But when the spooky season ends, a new terrifying trend emerges.

More than one billion pounds of pumpkin end up in U.S. landfills every year after being carved, decorated and painted. The piles of organic waste decompose and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Fortunately, there are plenty of sustainable alternatives to discarding pumpkins and other organic autumn waste such as leaves, cornstalks, and apples.

One way to keep your leftover pumpkin out of a landfill is to donate it to a farm or sanctuary. The fruit serves as a nutritious, fibrous food source for animals and its seeds are natural dewormers, said Kristin Sutch, of Rose Bridge Farm & Sanctuary in Dresher.

The sanctuary in Montgomery County houses 50 animals, she said. Camels, pigs, goats, sheep, cows — they all go crazy for the Halloween treat. People can drop off their unpainted pumpkins in front of the barn anytime from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., she said.

“Farm animals are sweet, intelligent and empathetic, and we’d like the general public to consider offering them love and care, because they’re very sweet souls,” Sutch said.

Mary Pat Donnelly, a farmer for Fox Chase Farm in Northeast Philadelphia, said people can donate pumpkins there to feed the chickens, goats and its pig named Oliver.

Most of the donations, though, will be turned into compost, which is organic matter used as plant fertilizer, Donnelly said.

Northwest Philadelphians can compost their leftover, unpainted pumpkins in their own gardens. The fruit serves as a great source of nitrogen for compost bins and provides nutrients to soil as it breaks down, according to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Gardeners can also keep the seeds and plant new pumpkins the following spring.

Those who do not have a compost bin can bury pumpkins in their yard (just scoop out the seeds first) or donate it to a Philadelphia Community Compost Network site, such as Liberty Lands park by West Wildey Street in Northern Liberties. However, many sites are not accepting donations, so it’s best to call before dropping off your leftovers.

Philadelphians also can use a composting pickup service.

Plymouth Meeting-based Back to Earth Compost Crew provides residential curbside compost pickup in Montgomery and Chester counties. Current subscribers can order pumpkin pick-up service in the customer portal and noncustomers can email hello@backtoearthcompost.com for pick-up/drop off information, founder Colleen Falicki told the Local. The business charges $2 for each small pumpkin, $4 for basketball-sized ones and $6 for large pumpkins. It accepts pumpkins that are carved but not painted.

Circle Compost is offering to pick up and compost leftover pumpkins for $4 per pumpkin within much of Philadelphia. Existing customers can get this service for free and must chop it up and place it in the usual bucket, according to the business’ website. Noncustomers can sign up for the service on Circle Compost’s website and donate both carved and water-based painted pumpkins. Customers should check that their address is within the business’ service area, because it does not cover all of Philadelphia.

Tim Bennett, founder of Bennett Compost, said existing customers can have their pumpkins picked up from their doorstep, as long as they notify the company via the the customer portal.

Or, they can gather with fellow residents and smash them into compost. Bennett Compost is co-hosting its annual Great Pumpkin Smackdown, Saturday, Nov. 8, with the Fishtown Neighbors Association and New Kensington Community Development Corporation. Attendees can bring their pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns to the former Greensgrow Farms site at 2501 E. Cumberland St. and smash them into compost for $5 per family. The Smackdown will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The event helps raise awareness about composting among Philadelphia residents, Bennett said. The process keeps food waste out of incinerators and landfills, ultimately reducing pollution and the city’s greenhouse gas emissions.

“Composting pumpkins, just like any other food or organic waste, is a way to more environmentally dispose of your natural materials,” he said.

If none of those alternatives work, residents can always transform their leftover pumpkins into culinary creations. Residents can roast the pumpkin seeds for their families or bird feeders. The rest can be turned into a pumpkin puree to make pumpkin bread, muffins, soup and other dishes.

Abby Weiss is an environmental reporter for the Local and a Report for America corps member. She can be reached at Abby@chestnuthilllocal.com.