PEOPLE marking Halloween festivities have been urged to recycle their pumpkins when November arrives. 

Official estimates predict the UK wastes 18,000 tonnes of squash every October when pumpkins are thrown in the bin, but they can in fact be used or recycled.

The flesh inside pumpkins can be used to make pies, soups, hummus, or even smoothies for those wanting to get a nutritional kick out of the vegetables.

Once Halloween has ended, pumpkins with the candles removed can be composted or placed in a food waste caddy, which is collected weekly by neighbourhood waste services.

Read more:

• Families evoke spooky spirits at pumpkin trail in East Mersea

• Staff being handed fines in 'ridiculous' parking situation at Colchester Hospital

• Restaurant's expansion bid rejected over fears it would 'harm conservation area'

Following collection, Colchester’s recycled food goes to an anaerobic digestion plant where it is then turned into fertiliser that feeds crops, and can also be made into gas used to generate electricity.

Colchester Council’s Martin Goss, the portfolio holder for neighbourhood services and waste, said making use of them was part of people doing their bit for the environment.

He said: “If you can’t compost them at home, we’re asking Colchester residents to recycle pumpkin leftovers or, if they are too large, place them on top of their caddy.”