If you are going to visit the graves of your loved ones earlier this year, you should pay attention to one aspect

Remembering the dead, they manage graves together, rake leaves and needles, remove burned candles, replace flowers and wreaths. Eventually, most decorations become a ton of waste, obscuring the image of the cemetery. So what is worth thinking about in advance to avoid all this?

Sort waste not only at home but also in cemeteries

According to Ecoservice, compared to other months, the amount of waste in the cemetery increases by an average of 200 tons in the period of preparation for Late Night, and this figure increases every year, the press release notes.

Still, the biggest problem is that most of this waste could be recycled, but if you go in the wrong direction, you lose that opportunity.

“It is important to remember that waste needs to be sorted not only at home, but also in cemeteries. The household waste bins next to each cemetery are not for all grave waste.

If cut flowers, stolen leaves or needles end up in household waste containers, they emit unpleasant odors and toxic methane and CO2 gases during decomposition. Leaving green waste in containers of secondary raw materials complicates the work of waste managers and prevents recycling of classified paper, plastic or glass waste.

Therefore, only the waste that remains after sorting should travel to the household waste containers, ”says Daiva Skrupskelienė, Ecoservice’s commercial waste collection manager.

In some cemeteries, according to the expert, big bags or special containers are brought especially for green waste, in others, a compost pit or a post is installed. It is in these places that cut flowers, leaves, needles or twigs should end up.

“It is true that it is also difficult if candles, artificial flowers or other decorations are thrown into the green trash. This type of mixed container content cannot be composted later ”, adds the expert.

Take care of sorting the waste yourself

The expert emphasizes that each cemetery has its own order, so when it comes to handling nearby graves, residents must first pay attention to how to handle the different types of waste in that place.

For example, secondary raw materials like glass or plastic containers, candle liners should be disposed of in sorting containers near the cemetery if possible.

“Just remember that before disposing of a glass or plastic candle insert, you must remove any wax residue. Meanwhile, when you dispose of glass candle inserts in a glass container, remove the metal caps.

It is true that it is not necessary to remove the lids from the plastic liners, as both plastic and metal can travel to the same plastic waste container. In the meantime, all of them, even plastic artificial flowers, have to travel to a household garbage container, ”says D. Skrupskelienė.

It is true that not all cemeteries have sorting containers for secondary raw materials. In this case, Mr. Skrupskelienė asks that the waste be taken to the house nearest or closest to the general classification containers and classified there.

Creativity will help reduce waste

Without a doubt, properly sorting and disposing of waste is much better than throwing it away in a common pile. The collected green waste will be delivered to composters, secondary waste will be recycled and domestic waste will be transported to mechanical and biological treatment plants.

However, the expert notes that by creating a more orderly environment and reducing the amount of waste in cemeteries in general, residents can also opt for more natural and sustainable grave decorations.

“For those who manage the graves of their loved ones, it is worth considering how to replace the most polluting artificial flowers or candles in plastic and glass inserts.

After a few weeks, these decorations turn to waste, so you can always decorate the graves with real flower bouquets or fir branches, which decay, plant perennials, and instead of disposable candles, install grave lights, that would be enough to change sails ”, advises D. Skrupskelienė.