Charleston County takes Halloween pumpkins free at Bees Ferry Landfill in West Ashley from Sunday, Nov. 1, to Dec. 4. Strip paint, glitter and wax off first.

Charleston County will take your Halloween pumpkins for free. Pumpkin collection bins open Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Bees Ferry Landfill, 1344 Bees Ferry Road in West Ashley.

The bins sit next to the landfill’s existing food scrap collection carts. They stay out through Friday, Dec. 4, the county’s Environmental Management Department said in a news release on Oct. 30.

What to do before you drop one off

The county asks residents to clean pumpkins first:

  • take off paint, glue, stickers and glitter; the county suggests a vegetable peeler
  • scrape out any candle wax

Pumpkins go into the county’s compost instead of the landfill. “Composting gives pumpkins a second life by turning them into nutrient-rich material that helps new plants and vegetables grow,” Environmental Management Program Manager Christina Moskos said in the release.

When the drop site is open

The release does not give separate hours for the pumpkin bins. The county’s compost program page lists the Bees Ferry food scrap drop site as open Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and gated when closed. It is in the gravel lot next to the scale house, past the convenience center. That page lists no Sunday hours, so a weekday or Saturday trip is the safer bet.

What it means for you

  • Free, through Dec. 4: carved jack-o’-lanterns and leftover decorative pumpkins can go in the bins at Bees Ferry, once paint, glitter and wax are off.
  • Everything else: our trash and recycling guide has city pickup days and recycling rules.
  • Food scraps all year: the same carts at Bees Ferry take food scraps from Charleston-area residents for free.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I compost my pumpkin in Charleston?

At Bees Ferry Landfill, 1344 Bees Ferry Road in West Ashley. Charleston County has put pumpkin collection bins next to the food scrap carts there, free for residents, from Sunday, Nov. 1, through Friday, Dec. 4, 2026.

What do I need to remove from a pumpkin before composting it?

Paint, glue, stickers and glitter, which the county suggests taking off with a vegetable peeler, and any candle wax, which should be scraped out.