Pumpkin Smash and Food Scrap Program
Summary
A heated exchange revealed the town previously paid employees to pick up food waste from schools — work Councilman Kern argued belongs to the school district. The superintendent and town will model a new partnership this fall.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 4
- Last 30 days
- 2
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Sep 24, 2026.
Impact analysis
Past town-funded pickups cost taxpayer money; a new partnership aims to shift costs to the school district.
Taxpayers benefit if the school district covers its own food waste handling costs.
Mentions & discussions (4)
Photo gallery: Riverhead smashes pumpkins, farmers market opens at Hallockville
Riverhead residents traded carving knives for a chance to smash their Halloween pumpkins Saturday, as the town held its first pumpkin smash to promote composting and reduce the amount of waste sent out for disposal. The event took place at the town’s...
Compost leftover pumpkins at Riverhead’s first-ever Pumpkin Smash event on Saturday, Nov. 7
We did the Monster Mash, now it’s time for the Pumpkin Smash. As the fun of Halloween fades, so does the magic of those now rotting jack o’lanterns on the front stoop. Instead of throwing those leftover pumpkins in the trash, bring them to Riverhea...
Town Board Work Session - Sep 24, 2026
The town plans a Pumpkin Smash event November 7 at the yard waste facility so residents can compost jack-o'-lanterns instead of trashing them, which produces harmful greenhouse gas. It's funded with $1,500 in existing CDA funds and earns Climate Smart points toward future grants.
Town Board Work Session - Jun 11, 2026
A heated exchange revealed the town previously paid employees to pick up food waste from schools — work Councilman Kern argued belongs to the school district. The superintendent and town will model a new partnership this fall.
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