After All Saints’ Day, 3-9kg per grave, 120,000 tons of waste removed to landfills
After All Saints’ Day, around 120,000 tons of cemetery waste are generated in Poland each year, which equals about 3 to 9 kilograms of waste per grave, according to the Polish Recycling Association. These wastes are difficult to process because many cemeteries lack proper sorting systems, and glass from candles cannot be recycled with current technologies. Artificial flower arrangements often contain PVC, which also prevents recycling. To reduce waste, the association recommends the 3xR principle: reduce, reuse, recycle—such as replacing only candle inserts instead of entire lamps.
Increasingly popular “candle-sharing shelves” allow people to leave reusable candles for others. Long-term solutions include eco-design, producing flowers and candles from materials that are easier to recycle.
