The EcoWaste Coalition (EWC) has called on the public to avoid single-use plastics, manage waste responsibly, and adopt eco-friendly habits as millions of Filipinos visit cemeteries for the Undas season.
To curb holiday waste, the environmental group encourages visitors to carry food and beverages in reusable containers, skip disposable bags and utensils, and pack out their trash for proper sorting, recycling, or composting if bins are absent.
“Every year, we see the aftermath of thousands flocking to cemeteries during Undas season—heaps of trash scattered along sidewalks, overflowing bins, food wrappers and containers left behind on tombstones—and every year, we continue to forward this campaign to reduce trash and make Undas completely waste-free,” EWC Zero Waste campaigner Ochie Tolentino said in a statement.
To promote a cleaner All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, EWC volunteers teamed up with the Samahan ng mga Mangangalakal sa Capulong at the Manila North Cemetery under the theme “Puede nang Mangarap ng Isang Malinis na Undas.”
The campaign launch featured a candle-lighting event and the reappearance of “Zombasura,” a mascot designed to caution communities against cemetery littering.
Under its “Cemetiquette” guidelines, the coalition asked families to clean gravesites safely without burning debris or dumping waste on nearby tombs or walkways. It also recommended using lead-safe paints for tomb renovations, avoiding dry sanding or scraping to prevent lead dust exposure, and choosing locally grown flowers without plastic packaging.
Furthermore, visitors were advised to burn clean candles without letting plastic receptacles catch fire, use designated restrooms, and avoid smoking or vaping to protect children, the elderly, and pregnant women.
Beyond Manila, the coalition expanded its outreach to Cebu, collaborating with local parishes and barangays—including representatives from Carreta and the St. Augustine of Hippo Quasi-Parish in Inayawan—to conduct environmental education sessions for Kalag-kalag.
The EWC announced plans to monitor cleanliness and compliance with waste segregation and anti-burning laws across Luzon memorial parks, with volunteers from the Diocese of Imus Ministry on Ecology documenting waste management practices throughout Cavite.