Think green this All Saints’ Day

Think green when you remember your departed loved ones this week.

This was the appeal raised by environmental group EcoWaste Coalition to Filipinos as they troop to cemeteries this Thursday in observance of All Saints’ Day.

The group, which has issued similar public reminders during festivals and holidays as part of its effort to protect public health and the environment, issued a five-point guideline for a “simple, clean and green celebration” of All Saints’ Day.

Rei Panaligan, coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition, said the best way to spend Nov.1 is still by “offering heartfelt prayers for our departed loved ones to honor their memory.

“This entails no expense, can never be called wasteful, and does not create trash and pollution that damage our health and environment,” said Panaligan.

In choosing flowers that would be placed at tombs, EcoWaste Coalition said they should be “fresh, rather than plastic, floral offerings and refrain from wrapping them in plastic or dressing them up with ribbons, as these will only end up in dumps or clog our waterways.”

The group said it is even better to wrap flowers in biodegradable materials like banana leaves or old newspaper.

Candles, according to the group, should be used sparingly.

“Light up just one or two instead of a dozen or more,” the group said.

“Stay away from candles that aggravate air pollution with sooty smoke, as well as those with metal wicks that may emit toxic heavy metals like lead. These metal wicks, used to prolong the flame’s life, are commonly found in large (pillar) candles, scented candles, and those molded inside glass or plastic jars. Remember to bring home all leftover candles, as well as the candle stands or holders,” Ecowaste explained.

As for food and drinks, the environmental group asked Filipinos to use banana leaves and reusable containers like cups and pitchers instead of styrofoam or plastic disposables.

Finally, the group urged the public not to litter, dump or burn trash.

The group also encouraged families to try alternative “fun” activities while at the cemetery that will inform both young and old about the value of ecologically managing discards.

 “The crusade for a clean and green observance of All Saints’ Day and other red-letter family or community occasions is very timely in the face of the worsening air pollution, especially in Metro Manila, which has been found to cause premature death,” Panaligan said.

The group lamented that toxic waste and pollution seem to be a perennial part of our festivities and public gatherings, due to lack of public awareness and concern about their harmful effects on human and environmental health.

According to the latest issue of the Philippine Environment Report published by the World Bank, nearly 5,000 cases of premature death occur annually in Metro Manila due to heart and lung diseases caused by exposure to polluted air. This represents 12 percent of the total number of registered deaths in the city.

EcoWaste Coalition said there has been a glaring lack of effective systems for waste management that would make proper disposal of discards simple and easy for the public.