Smashing pumpkins was encouraged at the McIntire Recycling Center last weekend, as residents dropped off their post-Halloween jack-o’-lanterns during the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority’s ninth annual Great Pumpkin Smash. The free event, held through November 9, gave Charlottesville and Albemarle County residents a chance to dispose of their seasonal decorations while keeping organic waste out of landfills. Collected pumpkins were sent to a composting facility to be turned into nutrient-rich soil amendments. Gourd riddance!