Improperly discarded LED grave candles pose fire risk

LED grave candles can ignite waste trucks or landfill sites if thrown into general waste, waste-disposal companies have warned. ORF reports that the candles should be disposed of separately as electronic waste.

Friction or damage to their batteries can cause them to catch fire. Gabriele Jüly, president of the Association of Austrian Waste Management Companies, urged people to dispose of LED candles separately around the upcoming holidays.

LED candles can be returned to shops or taken to a recycling centre. Burned-out, disposable wax grave candles can go in special collection bins at many cemeteries or, where these are not available, in general waste.

Faded grave flowers belong in organic waste or compost. For wreaths and arrangements, branches, flowers and other plant material should also go in organic waste or a compost container. Ribbons and floral foam belong in general waste, while binding wire should go with scrap metal.

Waste-disposal companies say compostable alternatives are available for some plastics used in floristry, including bases made from recycled paper instead of polystyrene.