Public urged to observe trash-free Undas

MANILA, Philippines — An environmental watchdog urged the public to observe an eco-friendly and garbage-free observance of the All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days. 

EcoWaste Coalition stressed Thursday the importance of being good stewards of the environment while respecting the departed souls of their loved ones. 

“We continue to remind the general public to honor the dead by not leaving their trash inside the cemeteries. A waste free celebration of Undas is requisite in honoring the final resting place of our deceased loved ones,” said Ochie Tolentino, zero waste campaigner of EcoWaste Coalition. 

The group proposed a set of guidelines aimed at promoting a waste-free Undas:

EcoWaste Coalition pointed out that observing cemetery etiquettes will reduce the volume of waste accumulated. It noted that 78 truckloads or 196 metric tons of garbage were collected from Manila North and South Cemeteries in 2022. 

“Celebrating an eco-friendly and trash-free Undas is important since garbage from the clean-up of tombs adds to the huge amounts of rubbish hauled from gravesites before and especially after Undas,” Tolentino said.