In November each year, millions of Filipinos flock to cemeteries to visit their departed loved ones, bringing flowers, lighting candles, and offering prayers.

Unfortunately, the occasion is often marred by wasteful practices. In 2013 alone, 120 tons of garbage were collected from various cemeteries in Metro Manila, according the Metro Manila Development Authority or MMDA.

To avoid this, the environmental watchdog, EcoWaste Coalition, gave 10 tips for an environment-friendly undas:

1) Take public transportation or share a ride to the cemetery.
Carpooling or taking a jeepney, bus or train can lessen carbon emission. To avoid traffic, you may also walk to your destination.

2) Choose the right candles.
Pick clean-burning candles that do not give off black fumes or ash. Also, shun candles with metal wicks, which may contain harmful chemicals such as lead.

3) Light candles a few a time.
Burn just enough candles to save on money and energy. This also lessens pollution.

4) Offer locally-grown fresh flowers.
Imported flowers are costly and require tons of energy to get them flown to you. When you support locally-grown flowers, you lesson your carbon footprint, while supporting the livelihood of locals.

5) Refrain from putting flowers in plastic wrap.
Plastics eventually end up clogging waterways. Oftentimes, plastics also cause floods, injure and kill animals, and poison communities with hazardous chemicals when burned.

6) Eat and drink right.
By not bringing excessive amounts of food and beverage to the cemetery, you cut down, not only your expenses, but also your wastes.

7) Bring your own tumbler.
Drinking water from reusable jugs saves you a few bucks, as opposed to buying bottled water. Discarded plastic bottles also add to the country’s garbage problem.

8) Don’t forget the eco-bags.
Pack everything you wish to bring to the cemetery in reusable bags and baskets instead of single-use plastic bags and containers.

9) Throw garbage properly.
Throw all discards into proper recycling bins. Remember that littering in the cemetery—as elsewhere—is a no-no.

10) Reuse and recycle.
Take home all your discards for reusing or recycling. You may also bring leftovers for your pets or dump them into the compost pit with other biodegradable wastes. Non-biodegradable discards should be recycled.

REFERENCES:

https://ecowastecoalition.blogspot.com/2009/10/environmentalists-campaign-for-waste.html

http://pagasa.dost.gov.ph/index.php/news/92-press-release/3414-special-weather-outlook-for-undas-2016