Powys residents celebrating Halloween are being urged not to condemn their pumpkin remains to landfill.

Around 15,000 pumpkins will be used by Powys residents creating approximately 75 tonnes of extra food waste this Halloween, however most of the pumpkins are used purely for decoration

Powys Council’s recycling and waste team is looking to remind residents that, as well as using the shells for carving spooky decorations, they can also use the insides of pumpkins to make recipes such as pumpkin soup, tart or even lasagne while using the seeds as snacks.

Any parts of the pumpkin that aren’t used, including the shell when it’s no longer needed, can be added to household food waste caddies.

A Powys spokesman said that not only will this stop food waste going to landfill, but it can create green energy and produce an environmentally-sustainable fertiliser to help Welsh farmers grow more food.

The cabinet member for recycling and waste, Cllr Heulwen Hulme said: "Most people in Powys recycle their food waste every week so it’s really simple to do your bit by recycling yours along with any extra food waste from Halloween.

"It’s a scary fact that for every ten tonnes of food waste we recycle, we help to create enough green electricity to power the average household for a year.

"Just put your pumpkins in or alongside your food caddy and we will pick it up and get it sent off to be recycled. 

"Recycling food waste using our weekly collection service is cleaner, greener and more cost effective for everyone. It also helps support Wales’ drive to create more green energy by feeding anaerobic digestion plants."

Visit the Powys County Council website by clicking here for more information on food waste, recycling or kerbside collection containers as well as for tips on what can and cannot be recycled.

Meanwhile animal charity RSPCA Cymru has said that leftover pumpkin can make a tasty treat for wildlife.

Many animals can eat pumpkin, and the charity is encouraging anyone who will be carving a pumpkin not to throw away the remnants.

An RSPCA Cymru spokeswoman said: "Once Halloween is over, we’d urge people who have been celebrating to not waste their carved pumpkins by simply chucking them in the bin.

"Lots of animals - including wildlife - love to eat pumpkin; so we’re urging people not to waste them but to feed them to the wildlife in their gardens or perhaps even to their pets.

"Squirrels, foxes, badgers and birds all enjoy them, so people could leave chopped up pumpkin outside in dishes for wild animals to eat if they choose. Wildlife can struggle to find food this time of year so some chunks of tasty pumpkin could be very welcome.

"Pigs and chickens, too, also like the fruit - so anyone keeping these as pets could chop up their old Jack-o’-lantern for them. They make great enrichment for pigs and chickens - although it should only be given to them if it hasn’t been through a kitchen first, as it is illegal to feed waste food to livestock and farm animals.”

However pumpkin carvers should check the fruit is appropriate to feed animals once they have finished with their decorations – making sure to remove any tea light holders or candle wax and the quality of the flesh.

It is also illegal in Wales to feed waste food to livestock and farm animals, which can only be fed pumpkins if it has not been through a kitchen first.

The spokeswoman said: “Before feeding leftover pumpkin to any animals, however, it’s obviously important to remove tea light holders and any traces of candle wax.

“It is always worth checking the inside flesh of the pumpkin too - to ensure it isn’t mushy, mouldy, scorched or burned, as this may make it unsuitable for animals - although it would still make good compost!"