Funeral Administration: Wreaths and items placed on graves a national environmental problem

Sandefjord church.Photo: Vegard Grøtt / NTB scanpix

Many lay wreaths on the graves of loved ones during the Christmas season and they  contribute to a national environmental problem, said the Funeral Administration in Oslo.

“Plastic pollution associated with items left on graves is a national problem. People knowingly and willingly put out plastic ornaments that, after only a few days, become plastic waste,” said Erik André Foss, department head of the Funeral Administration to Vårt Land.

According to Foss, the main challenge is the plastic and non-compostable materials that are placed on the tombstones. The wreaths that are laid out at the gravesites during the Christmas holidays are particularly a problem, reports the newspaper.

Often, nylon threads and plastic clips are used to assemble the flowers, which means that the ornaments must go into waste incineration instead of being compostable, observed Foss.

Although most of the waste is incinerated, much of the plastic is released back to nature and this applies especially to the plastic from wreaths and grave lamps, he added.

“We urge the consumer to request compostable material when ordering grave ornaments,” advised Foss.

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today

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