EcoWaste Coalition's Tips for Garbage-Free Undas

EcoWaste Coalition's Tips for Garbage-Free Undas:
I. FOR CEMETERY ADMINISTRATORS

• Carry out a recycling program within their sites, including the possibility of engaging the service of waste pickers in adjacent neighborhoods.

• Put up recycling stations (at the minimum two separate bins for biodegradable and non-biodegradable discards), especially in high traffic areas (entrances, exits, toilets, vendor areas etc.).

• Hang cloth banners in strategic spots to announce that the cemetery is a waste-free zone and that everyone is enjoined not to litter, dump or set discards, including grass clippings, ablaze.

• Integrate the ecological management of discards in catering and vendor rules and regulations, including essential waste prevention and reduction requisites.

• Orient and require other potential waste generators such as the accredited volunteer support groups to abide by the cemetery waste policy.

• Make use of the public address system to politely inform and persuade all to support the cemetery’s effort to avoid and cut trash.

II. FOR AMBULANT MERCHANTS, FASTFOOD STALLS AND OTHER BUSINESS SHOPS

• Refrain from giving away plastic disposables such as bags, straws, cups, and other single-use plastic items. Hand them out only upon request.

• Serve food and beverage in reusable glasses and mugs, plates, and cutlery.

• Courteously show your customers where to put their discards for recycling or disposal.

• Bring your own trash bags or bins, keep them from overflowing, and keep your areas clean at all times.

• Make a final sweep of your assigned spaces, ensuring that all trash has been properly removed.

III. FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC

• Clean the tombs of your departed ones without causing pollution — for example, from the burning of grass and plant cuttings and garbage piles.

• Walk, bike, carpool or take the public transportation to the cemeteries.

• Select clean-burning candles that do not yield black fumes or ash.

• Lit a reasonable number only to minimize heat and pollution. Do not let candles’ plastic receptacles or holders to burn.

• Offer local fresh flowers, not plastic ones, or consider bringing potted plants and flowers instead. Simple, inexpensive flowers will do. Avoid wrapping floral or plant offerings in plastic, which will sooner or later end up as trash.

• Don’t play loud music, tone down noise in the cemetery, and help make the place conducive to prayers and to family bonding, too.

• Bring your own water jug to avoid purchasing bottled water. Please watch The Story of Bottled Water to find out why: http://storyofstuff.org/bottledwater/

• Go for waste-free meals. Say yes to reusable carriers, containers, and utensils such as lunchboxes and thermos, cloth napkins and silverwares. Say no to throw-away bags, wraps, foil or Styrofoam, paper napkins, and forks and spoons. Also, refrain from patronizing junk food and go for simple yet nutritious home-prepared baon.

• Buy less or only as much as you know you will consume in terms of food and beverage. Bring bayong or other reusable bags to carry your stuff and purchases, and refuse plastic bags and wrappers from vendors.

• Cut your waste size by not creating trash in the first place such as by purchasing products with the least amount of packaging and avoiding single-use plastic disposables.

• Take full responsibility for your discards. Put them into the recycling bins and never litter. Better still, bring your own discards bags and bring them home for sorting, reusing, recycling or composting. Remember to leave the resting places of your loved ones litter-free.


EcoWaste Coalition
Unit 329, Eagle Court Condominium, Matalino St.
Quezon City, Philippines
+63 2 441-1846
ecowastecoalition@yahoo.com

Comments

Unknown said…
thanks for sharing this...this post is very informative! Go Green Bags !