As All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day approach, more and more people visit the graves of their loved ones. According to Dr. Ausra Zigmontiene, a researcher at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH), the amount of cemetery waste nearly doubles during this period. This trend has been observed for several years, raising the question: how can we honor the deceased in a more sustainable way that doesn’t lead to excessive littering?

Give nature a second chance

It is hard to find a grave that isn't decorated with fresh or artificial flowers, bouquets or wreaths made from them. While most people decorate the graves of their loved ones according to their personal preferences, it's worth to start considering what might also be more environmentally friendly.

According to Dr. Ausra Zigmontiene, head of the Department of Environmental Protection and Water Engineering at VILNIUS TECH, choosing live flowers is much more sustainable because natural plants that have lost their aesthetic value can be recycled. When discarded in green waste containers, they are given a second life.

"Properly sorting wilted flowers, tree leaves, and twigs allows them to be composted and later used to rejuvenate the soil. This way, carbon returns to the earth. The ideal solution is perennial, evergreen plants that adorn the grave for a long time and require little maintenance," shares Dr. Zigmontiene. "Another highly recommended and sustainable option is bouquets made from seasonal or dried flowers, plants, fir twigs, pine cones, rowan berries, and other natural materials."

Despite this, artificial flowers are still in demand. People choose them for their durability, which is especially relevant when relatives are buried in another part of Lithuania. The biggest downside of artificial flowers, according to the scientist, is the variety of materials from which they are made, which complicates the sorting and recycling process.

"Artificial flowers are made from various materials—plastic, metal, textiles—so they are practically non-recyclable. As a result, they end up in landfills or are sent to waste incineration plants, which marks the end of their lifecycle. Of course, if these flowers are used for several seasons, washed, repaired, and reused, it’s not the worst option," says the VILNIUS TECH researcher.

Be careful – otherwise, you could do more harm than good

All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day are hard to imagine without candles. They are one of the main symbols of the day, which is why people often place not just one but several candles on the grave. Unfortunately, they quickly become waste.

"We all understand the desire to light the candles, but do we really need 10, 15, or 20 candles on a grave? Let’s not forget why we visit the graves of our loved ones. One of the goals is to remember them. I doubt that memories are best honored with large flower bouquets and dozens of candles," says Dr. Zigmontiene.

The most sustainable choice in this case would be reusable candle holders made of glass or other materials, the scientist suggests. While the initial investment is typically higher, it quickly pays off and reduces waste, as the inserts filled with paraffin or soy wax only need to be replaced from time to time.

However, Dr. Zigmontiene notes that many people still use plastic and glass candles, into which wax or paraffin is poured. These can be sorted and recycled, but it's important to check if there are any wax or paraffin residues inside—otherwise, the candles can no longer be recycled and must be discarded in mixed waste containers.

"If the wax is cleaned, just make sure to sort them correctly—dispose of the glass, plastic shells, and the candle tops, often made from metal or plastic, into the appropriate recycling bins to at least contribute to sustainability," she says.

**Waste handlers, municipalities, and local authorities ensure that there are designated bins for sorting waste, including mixed and green waste—such as leaves, tree branches, and wilted flowers—around cemeteries. People just need to pay attention to where to dispose of what. If green or mixed waste is thrown into a recycling bin, we will do more harm than good—any sorted waste will be contaminated, and it won’t be possible to process it as secondary raw materials. In such a case, the person's sorting efforts are wasted. Let’s respect each other and the Earth we live on, as natural resources are running out," says Dr. Zigmontiene.

Is covering the grave with slabs sustainable?

Another unsustainable trend during All Souls' Day is frequent car travel. Often, people from different cities in Lithuania gather at the graves of their loved ones and then travel further, further polluting the environment.

"For sustainability, relatives should try to carpool and visit the cemetery together instead of individually. Additionally, they can coordinate who will bring what for the grave: one can bring a candle, another a bouquet of flowers. I think that’s enough—after all, as they say, we should love the living, and we can remember the deceased in our thoughts, conversations, and memories of them," smiles Dr. Zigmontiene.

Frequent or long-distance car trips are required not only for visiting graves during the All Souls' period but also for grave maintenance. It’s no surprise that more and more people are choosing to cover graves completely with slabs or tiles—this way, they no longer have to maintain them frequently and, in turn, don’t need to drive to the cemetery as often, thus contributing to sustainability. However, there are both pros and cons to covering graves in this way.

"Imagine that the entire grave area is covered with slabs. Where will the snowmelt and rainwater go? By significantly reducing the soil area, water can no longer filter into the ground. This is particularly important in today’s climate, where we often experience very heavy, intense rains that bring large amounts of precipitation in a short time. So, perhaps it would be more sustainable to cover the grave with pebbles or leave the area open and plant perennial plants," says Dr. Ausra Zigmontiene, head of the Department of Environmental Protection and Water Engineering at VILNIUS TECH.