NEW ALBANY, Ohio (WCMH) -- New Albany residents beat their own record this week after the city announced residents saved 19.2 tons of waste from landfills, just from composting pumpkins. From Oct. 31 to Dec. 8, New Albany residents were invited to drop off seasonal pumpkins at one of four locations in an effort to promote sustainability and minimize waste. The city completed the total waste saved on Jan. 8 and proudly announced their new 19.2-ton record. New Albany Communications and Marketing Specialist Madison Miller said the program began in 2022 after a recommendation from the New Albany Sustainability Advisory Board. During the board's inaugural meeting in November 2021, Miller said the team prioritized reducing food waste and decided to establish a composting program for residents. New Albany offers year-round composting, which 337 registered households participate in, but the city decided to take things further in the fall. Columbus-based chain restaurants debut menu items "While New Albany offers year-round food waste drop-off locations, pumpkins posed a unique challenge due to their weight, volume and the strain they place on regular compost bins," Miller said. Enter the seasonal pumpkin composting initiative. Residents could drop off their pumpkins at four locations around New Albany, which were open 24 hours a day. Candles, wax and decorations had to be removed from the pumpkins prior to drop off, but painted pumpkins were still able to be composted. Miller said New Albany partnered with Rumpke, which transported all collected pumpkins and gourds to the Ohio Penal Industry Compost Facility, which specializes in processing large-scale organic waste. "This program is just one of many waste reduction initiatives offered by the City, including political yard sign recycling, holiday lights recycling and annual drives for e-waste and household hazardous waste," Miller said.