All Saints Day: Proper disposal of LED grave decorations and plant care

As All Saints Day approaches, the Association of Austrian Waste Management Companies (VOEB) is advising the public on the correct disposal of grave decorations. There is an increasing use of LED candles on cemeteries due to their durability and weather resistance. Because these candles contain batteries or rechargeable accumulators, they are classified as electrical equipment and must be returned to retail outlets or recycling centers. Disposing of them in residual waste poses a fire risk in garbage trucks and sorting facilities.

Traditional wax candles should be placed in residual waste, while wax residues should go into dedicated collection containers. For floral arrangements, organic materials like twigs, flowers, and branches belong in organic waste bins. However, these arrangements should be dismantled to separate non-organic components. Items such as ribbons, Styrofoam, and plastic flowers must be disposed of in residual waste, while wires should be sent to scrap metal recycling. Soil bags and foils belong in lightweight packaging.

In regions such as St. Wendel, Germany, florists note that families are currently replacing summer plantings with hardy winter varieties. Popular choices include pansies, heather (Erica), and dwarf Spiraea, as well as Gaultheria for its red berries, to provide color during the frostier months.