Poland faces 500,000 tons of cemetery waste annually

Polish cemeteries generate approximately 500,000 tons of waste each year, with the vast majority produced around All Saints' Day. According to data from the Polish Recycling Association, about three-quarters of this waste consists of flowers, plant matter, and soil.

The remaining 130,000 tons comprise glass, plastics, and metals. Of this material waste, an estimated 100,000 tons could be recycled if properly segregated. However, many cemeteries currently use single containers for all waste types. When soil, wax, and organic matter are mixed with glass, plastic, and metal, the resulting contamination often makes recycling economically unfeasible, leading the waste to be sent to landfills or used for alternative fuel production.