EcoWaste Coalition Says Minimal to Intense Littering in Cemeteries Persists (Group Calls Out ‘Trashers of the Tombs,’ Commends Others for Not Leaving Litter Behind)
Manila North Cemetery
The EcoWaste Coalition, a green advocacy group for a zero
waste and toxics-free society, applauded cemetery visitors for not leaving
trash on gravesites even as it called out the “trashers of the tombs” --- or
those who leave their garbage behind --- for disrespecting the dead.
“We laud caring Filipinos for leaving flowers and prayers
- not trash - at the graves of their dearly departed relatives and
friends. This should be the rule rather
than the exception as millions gather every year in cemeteries to remember and
pray for them,” said Jove Benosa, Zero Waste Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.
“We hope the ‘trashers of the tombs’ will make amends by
not leaving their rubbish behind next time around. By keeping the graveyards clean, we show our
utmost respect to the dead and the living and Mother Earth, too,” he added.
According to field reports received from the group’s
Basura Patrollers, minimal to intense littering was observed in 17 cemeteries
in Caloocan, Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon
and San Juan Cities, as well as in Legazpi City in the Bicol Region.
The St. John Memorial Park-San Juan City Cemetery, the
Aglipay Cemetery in Marikina City, the Garden of Life-Mandaluyong City Cemetery,
Loyola Memorial Park in Parañaque City,
and the Bicol Memorial Park in Legazpi City were observed to be
litter-free or darn near thanks to the cooperation of disciplined
visitors. While nearly spotless, the
group found garbage dumped on a vacant lot inside the San Felipe Neri Catholic
Cemetery in Mandaluyong City.
Bagbag Public Cemetery stuck out as the most littered
burial ground in Metro Manila with garbage strewn all over the place. Littering in this cemetery in Quezon City has
been characterized as “intense” with visitors literally walking over or sitting
next to garbage.
With the ban on vendors in place, the EcoWaste Coalition
observed visible reduction of food packaging waste inside the Manila North and
South Cemeteries. However, some visitors
simply abandoned their discards such as heaping up bags of trash with no sense
of shame at the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the main road of Manila
North Cemetery, the group lamented.
The situation in private cemeteries was similarly
wasteful with bins overflowing with discards, especially single-use paper and
plastic packaging from food concessionaires, a common sight at the Manila
Memorial Park in Parañaque and Quezon Cities.
While alcoholic drinks are banned, some visitors sneaked some canned
beers through the tight security of Manila Memorial Park (Parañaque) leaving
the empty cans at the Columbarium area.
While critical of the “trashers of the tombs,” the
EcoWaste Coalition complimented people for picking up recyclables from garbage
bins and mounds, especially the roving members of the informal waste sector and
the Tzu Chi volunteers.
The group also lauded the hundreds of personnel deployed by the various city
governments, the Metro Manila Development Authority, and the management of public
and private cemeteries for working around the clock to keep the gravesites
clean and the visitors safe from dirt and harm.
To prevent the generation of Undas garbage, the EcoWaste
Coalition called on all local government units and cemetery administrators to
enforce good practices in waste prevention and reduction as laid out in their
respective Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) Plans.
"The garbage situation in all cemeteries will
further improve next year if preventive measures are effectively carried out,
including enjoining all visitors to bring their discards home and declaring
cemeteries as plastic-free zone, especially for single-use plastics such as
plastic carry bags, plates, cups, cutlery, drinking bottles, straws, stirrers
and Styrofoam containers," the EcoWaste Coalition said.
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