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The Village of Pinecrest partnered with Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Fertile Earth Worm Farm on November 5 to host its inaugural Pumpkin Smash event at Pinecrest Elementary School. Students from Pinecrest Elementary and Palmetto Middle School learned about composting and sustainability by transforming post-Halloween pumpkins into nutrient-rich compost.
The event was part of a district-wide initiative across 15 M-DCPS schools. Students prepared pumpkins for composting by removing non-compostable items while learning about decomposition, soil health, and the circular economy. A total of 6,850 pounds of pumpkins were diverted from landfills, where they would have contributed to methane emissions.
“This is a prime example of the impact achieved when community partners and schools collaborate to educate youth and expand waste diversion in our county,” said Karly Pulido, Resource Efficiency Officer at M-DCPS.
Councilwoman Shannon del Prado championed the initiative through the Village’s composting and Everglades Earth Cycle programs. “Composting works when everyone participates, from families at the farmers market to students in our schools,” she said. “As the first municipality in Miami-Dade to offer free residential composting with Fertile Earth Worm Farm, we’re demonstrating a model other communities can follow.”
Dr. Lanette Sobel, founder and CEO of Fertile Earth Worm Farm, emphasized the broader environmental impact. “I’m excited about this program because composting protects our water, soil, and air quality,” she said. “If food waste were a country, it would be the third largest greenhouse gas emitter behind the United States and China.”
Through the Village’s composting programs, Pinecrest has diverted 166,300 pounds of organic waste from landfills, equivalent to 32 Land Rovers. The partnership with Fertile Earth Worm Farm, South Florida’s largest composter, ensures collected pumpkins will be transformed into premium organic compost.
Residents can learn about composting options and drop-off locations at the Village of Pinecrest Composting Program website pinecrest-fl.gov/composting.
