In the end there were a lot of squished squash.
But actually, all the pumpkins and gourds collected Saturday morning behind the Morton Civic Center by the Department of Public Works, will be donated to a composting facility and most likely fed to farm animals.
The squash haul from the Public Works Department’s Great Pumpkin compost collection on Saturday, Nov. 5. Credit: Wendi Kromash 
From left, city workers Jaime Avila, Kevin Johnson and Donovan Pommells from the Public Works Department staff the Great Pumpkin compost collection on Saturday, Nov. 5. Credit: Wendi Kromash 
The squash haul from the Public Works Department’s Great Pumpkin compost collection on Saturday, Nov. 5. Credit: Wendi Kromash
City workers Jaime Avila, Kevin Johnson and Donovan Pommells from the Department of Public Works, were doing the work at what the city calls “It’s the Great Pumpkin Compost” collecting event. This is the seventh year the city has squired the squash away, helping put to practical use all of the holiday decorations.
While the RoundTable was there, the literal fruits of the three employees’ labors were corralling the contributions from at least 100 Evanstonians. The employees estimated at least another 50 cars would likely stop by before noon, and speculated the turnout was a little low compared to previous years because of the windy and rainy weather.