Juneau residents can drop off pumpkins for free composting through Nov. 30

Juneau residents can drop off pumpkins for free composting at Juneau Composts, 2300 Anka Street, through Monday, Nov. 30. The drop-off opened Friday and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the City and Borough of Juneau announced.

Pumpkins must be free of all decorations, including paint and candles, to be composted.

This is the sixth year RecycleWorks, the city's waste diversion program, and Juneau Composts have offered the service.

The pumpkin drop-off comes as the city plans for what happens to its trash. The Capitol Disposal Landfill, which is privately owned by Waste Management, is estimated to reach capacity and close within 10 years, according to the city's solid waste page. The city does not control the landfill's operations.

A May 2024 waste study for the city found that 32% of Juneau's waste is compostable. The study found that optimized diversion programs could divert 59% of the waste stream.

The city is planning a commercial-scale municipal composting facility to serve residents and businesses, including large grocery stores and restaurants. In July 2024, a city committee decided to seek an operator for it through a request for proposals. The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final finding of no significant impact for a $2.5 million grant the city was awarded for the proposed facility.

The facility is intended to divert about 1,500 tons of organic material a year and extend the life of the landfill. An environmental assessment found it could divert up to 22% of Juneau's annual waste stream.