Pumpkin Pitch Collects 500 Pounds of Pumpkins
Published: November 18, 2015.
°µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø teamed up with Will County Land Use Department’s Resource Recovery and Energy Division to collect 500 lbs. of pumpkins during the second annual Pumpkin Pitch on Nov. 6-7, at °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø’s main campus in Romeoville. Participants composted their jack-o’-lanterns instead of adding them to a landfill.
Contestants tossed or rolled pumpkins into a large garbage bin and in return, they received a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of four $25 gift certificates donated by Heroes West Sports Grill. °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø then hauled the tossed pumpkins to the Waste Management-operated Willow Ranch compost site in Romeoville.
Jaclyn Boyle, facilities coordinator for and administration at °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø, said the event reinforced what °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø students are already learning from the University’s year-round composting program. In 2013, °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø’ main dining hall began an organics collection. Pre-consumer food scraps, which includes all the food scraps created through food prep, are now being diverted from a landfill and instead, sent to be composted.
By composting this waste, °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø is taking a great step to reducing the amount of materials sent to a landfill and once more showing its commitment to sustainable practices.
°µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø is a Catholic university in the Lasallian tradition offering distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs to nearly 7,000 traditional and adult students. °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø offers multiple campus locations, online degree programs, and a variety of formats that provide accessibility and convenience to a growing student population. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø prepares intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, globally connected, and socially responsible graduates. The seventh largest private not-for-profit university in Illinois, °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø has been nationally recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Visit for further information.