AS the nation observes All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 1 and 2, Environment Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje called on Filipinos to think about the environment when they visit the cemetery to pay homage to their dead loved-ones.
His call was echoed by the EcoWaste Coalition, a local waste and pollution watchdog, which provided the public “tips” on how to observe a waste-free holiday in honor of the dead.
The chief steward of the country’s environment and natural resources wants Filipinos to observe a “green undas” and be mindful of the impact of their activities during the long weekend.
“This coming four-day weekend is one opportunity that the majority of us will definitely want to be with our loved-ones whether living or departed. However, we choose to celebrate the long weekend, let us also be mindful of the impact of our activities on our environment,” he said.
According to Paje, the country generates 30,000 tons of trash on a regular day, with 8,000 tons produced in Metro Manila alone.
“Let’s also think of the living when we commemorate our dead,” Paje said.
The Environment chief also reminded cemetery administrators and local government officials to provide waste receptacles to encourage the public to dispose of and segregate their garbage properly.
A “green undas,” Paje said, puts into practice proper waste disposal, such as the “three R’s” or “reuse, reduce and recycle” by using reusable utensils, food containers and bags.
He also urged the public to “bring only a sufficient amount of food and take home any leftover for proper disposal. Leftover food, he said, can be given to pets or use as compost.
For its part, EcoWaste encourages all Filipinos to practice “zero waste” and keep cemeteries waste-free and toxic-free.
The coalition, joined by Miss Earth Foundation, Diocese of Caloocan-Ecology Ministry, representatives from the city government of Manila City, Manila North Cemetery Administration, and civil-society groups held a public event at the Manila North Cemetery to call on the public to bury wasteful habits last week and to hype public awareness about the adverse impact of indiscriminate dumping of garbage during the nationwide observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
The groups also symbolized wasteful practices through “Zombasura” (a word jumble of “zombie” and “basura” or trash), a toxic monster who throws away garbage anywhere and litters the graveyard. Together with toxic ghouls, Zombasura paraded in the cemetery to demonstrate the bad impacts of burning and dumping of garbage to the environment and public health.
“Our cemeteries are a sacred place and not graveyards for our unwanted trash. Let us commemorate the occasion with simplicity, spirituality and utter respect for both the dead and the living. Let us all do our share for our planet. Do not be a Zombasura!,” Roy Alvarez, president of EcoWaste Coalition, said in a press statement.
EcoWaste said by cutting the volume of waste and practicing segregation and composting, the worsening conditions of the climate is somehow mitigated.
“As we visit and commemorate our deceased loved ones, we need to express also our love and responsibility for the environment. Do not throw or burn your trash, and avoid using plastic bags and disposable products and packaging. Let us keep our cemeteries clean and waste-free. These small steps will be a great gift to our Mother Earth,” Miss Earth-Philippines Athena Mae Imperial said.
To remind the public, EcoWaste Coalition recommends these simple-tips for a waste-free, climate-friendly and toxic-free undas:
- Local government and cemetery administrators are urged to hang cloth banners to remind the public that the cemetery is a waste-free zone; implement ecological solid-waste management and encourage vendors to support waste prevention; and place segregated bins (biodegradable and nonbiodegradable at a minimum) in strategic locations.
- On undas, remind the public to properly manage their discards through regular public announcements. Unwanted discards should be sorted in segregated bins or brought home for reusing, recycling or composting. In addition, nearby recycling communities can be invited to monitor cleanliness of the cemetery, while the collected recyclable discards can be donated to them.
- Walk, bike, carpool or take public transportation to the cemeteries.
- Make use only of nontoxic soaps or detergents to clean the tombs and unleaded paints for those who plan to repaint them. Avoid burning grass and plant cuttings and making garbage piles.
- Reuse leftover candles at home. If buying new candles, select plain and clean-burning candles to minimize smoke and pollution.
- Choose locally-grown fresh flowers and abstain from wrapping them in plastic to avoid additional litter.
- Avoid use of plastic bags, polystyrene packaging, disposable plates and utensils to reduce garbage.
- Just bring enough, not easily perishable food items to avoid spoilage and poisoning.
- Bring water jug and reusable cups and glass to reduce plastic bottle consumption.
- Keep noise and voices down as a sign of respect to others.
(Jonathan L. Mayuga)
