Don’t dump your pumpkins, Will County Forest Preserve says

The Will County Forest Preserve District is asking residents to not dump their used pumpkins at a preserve.

The district said dumping pumpkins in preserves is not only harmful to the environment, but is also illegal. Offenders could be ticketed, according to a news release.

District General Use Ordinance No. 124 bans anyone from depositing “trash, rubbish, paper, garbage, refuse, debris, or junk” in the preserves, which would include food refuse and seeds.

As an alternative, the district will offer residents the opportunity to bring their pumpkins to its composting program.

The district will collect pumpkins at the Plum Creek Nature Center on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. from Nov. 6 to Nov. 28.

The nature center is located at 27064 S. Dutton Road in Crete Township.