Pumpkins are a very common sight in people's windows and homes during the Halloween season, with millions being picked for carving.
Once the spooky designs are cut and Halloween is over though, you might be wondering what to do with them.
On average, the UK bins eight million of the fruit a year, but there are a few alternative uses you can get out of it instead of just chucking it away.
To help people make good use of pumpkins, there are several ways to either recycle or reuse them.
Millions of pumpkins usually end up being thrown away by Brits every year (Image: PA)
Pumpkins can be used for a variety of foods once they have been cleaned out.
Dominique Delacour, dairy expert at CAMBOZOLA, shared: "The best way to recycle your pumpkin after Halloween is to cook with it - never throw it away!
"Both the flesh, puplp and the seeds can be turned into something delicious.
"Roasted pumpkin works beautifully with creamy cheeses in puff pastry parcels, pasta bakes or toasties, while the seeds can be washed, seasoned and baked until golden for a crunchy topping or snack.
"It's an easy way to cut down on waste and turn your Halloween leftovers into something comforting and indulgent for autumn."
Grating the pumpkin pulp you pull out when carving could also be ideal for use in a pumpkin loaf, pie or muffin.
The fruit is high in vitamins A and C, as well as being a good source of fibre.
Use in food is not the only way to recycle a pumpkin, as it can be utilised as a way to fill your home with autumnal aromas.
To do this, clean out your pumpkin and pour in melted wax, mix with spices such as cinnamon and ginger for an extra seasonal scent and add a wick
Alternatively, use your empty pumpkin to create an autumnal planter for your garden or home.
Simply scrape out the inside, drill holes for drainage and add potting soil and plants of your choice.
It could also be made into a bird feeder if you clean it out, cut some holes in the side, fill it with bird seed and hang it up in your garden.
Pumpkins can be composted (PA) (Image: PA)
Using pumpkin in a DIY face mask can be beneficial.
AHAs or alpha hydroxy acids are widely praised in the skincare world for their ability to help exfoliate and renew skin, and pumpkins are packed full of them.
Josh Novell, Director of Polhill Garden Centre , has shared that pumpkins can be used in your garden once it has been cleaned out.
He said: "Next, break the pumpkin up into small chunks. Large pieces take much longer to decompose.
"Cutting them into fist-sized chunks or smaller helps them break down quickly and release nutrients evenly into the soil.
"One of the biggest mistakes people make is scattering pumpkin pieces across the surface; that's an open invitation for rats and slugs.
"Always bury your pumpkin a few inches deep in the soil as this keeps pests away and helps the microbes get to work faster."
"If you're digging pumpkins into borders or beds, mix in some dry garden materials like leaves, straw or old compost.
"That stops the soil from getting too wet or slimy, and it balances out the carbon and nitrogen levels as the pumpkin breaks down."
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If you do need to get rid of your pumpkin, then composting it would be the best option.
Chris Taylor from Chris Taylor Gardening shared: "Pumpkins break down quickly and make great compost material.
"Just remove any candle wax or decorations, chop it into smaller chunks, and add it to your compost heap.
"The high moisture content helps balance drier materials like leaves or cardboard."
You could also offer it up to any gardeners or allotment owners who might be interested in taking it off your hands
Aside from that, putting it in a food waste recycling bin also works.