Grave reminders for an environment-friendly 'Undas'

It’s that time of the year again when the living remember the dead and troop like a flock of migratory birds to the cem-eteries/memorial parks/columbaria. Of course, there are those who visit their dead not just once a year.

But before you make that annual pilgrimage, take a few tips from EcoWaste Coalition, a waste and pollution watchdog, for a environment-friendly and toxic-free All Saints’ Day celebration or what we call “Undas” even as we observe Clean Air Month by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 1101 in November.  EcoWaste’s campaign is very timely as the whole world struggles for a new treaty to avoid climate tipping point that will hopefully be agreed upon at the Copenhagen climate conference in December this year:

• Take public transportation or share a ride to the cemetery. Carpooling or taking a jeepney, bus or train can create carbon savings. Whenever applicable, walk or cycle to your destination.

• Pick clean-burning candles that do not give off black fumes or ash. Candles that produce excessive soot can trigger asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments. Also, avoid candles with metal wicks as these may contain harmful chemicals such as lead, a neurotoxin.

• Light just enough candles to save on money and energy, and minimize pollution.

• Offer locally-grown fresh flowers instead of imported ones that are not only costly but also require tons of energy to get them flown to flower shops and to you.

• Refrain from putting flowers in plastic wraps. Plastics eventually end up clogging waterways and causing floods, injuring and killing marine animals.

• Desist from bringing or buying excessive amounts of food and beverage to the cemetery to cut down on expenses and waste.

• Bring your own water in a reusable jug. Discarded plastic bottles add up to the country’s garbage problem.  Plastic bottles, which are petrochemical products, also require lots of oil and chemicals to manufacture.

• Pack everything you wish to bring to the cemetery in reusable bags and baskets in lieu of single-use plastic bags and containers. Instead of plastic disposables, use banana leaves or containers that can be reused.

• Throw all discards into the proper recycling bins and be conscious at all times that littering in the cemetery — and elsewhere — is a no-no!

• Bring home all your discards for reusing or recycling. Give food leftovers to pet animals or turn into compost with other biodegradable waste, and reuse or recycle the non-biodegradable discards that may have further use.

Have a really down-to-earth, earth-friendly All Saints’ Day celebration.

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Useful waste tips

With the tons of garbage left behind by the recent floods, a consumer shares some useful e-waste tips:

Dear Consumerline:

Many thanks for writing on the garbage problem brought upon by Ondoy.  My colleagues Manny and Rei from the EcoWaste Coaliton are spot on in their comments on the waste issues.  

I would just like to add a few more inputs on the management of the resulting e-waste:

E-waste contains a toxic brew of chemicals — from neurotoxins such as mercury and lead, endocrine disruptor such as cadmium, to cancer-causing dioxins from PVC plastics if burned.  Improper disposal of these wastes could very well release these toxins.  Examples of e-wastes include TV, mobile phones, radios, computers, any equipment that would require for the most part electricity to make it function.

First, the DENR and LGUs must remind owners or entities managing the e-waste not to burn the plastics in e-waste or throw the e-waste together with other wastes.  Segregation is needed.

Second, owners, before disposing of their e-waste, should try and contact the manufacturer of their soaked electronics to see if it can still be salvaged or made working again.  It would be useful to ask the manufacturer if they have a trade-in program for the e-waste.  

An alternative to step 2, especially if the machine is not branded or second-hand, is to bring the electronic gadget to a credible repair shop and see if they could get the machine working again. 

Disposal should be the last option. To address disposal, the DENR in coordination with LGUs should provide owners with information on where to send these toxic wastes, particularly to accredited recyclers.  

This is a very tough time for all of us, and emotions are high for the loss sustained.  However, we could be putting our community and ourselves in greater collective risk if we allow expediency of sweeping these wastes away, instead of managing them in an environmentally sound manner.

— Atty. Richard Gutierrez

Executive director, Ban Toxics!

26 Matalino St.

Diliman, Quezon City

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