Certain cultural practices make for a not-so-green Lunar New Year

People rush to plant the first joss stick of the Lunar New Year at the stroke of midnight at a temple in Singapore. Studies found that burning joss sticks release carcinogenic smoke. Photo: Reuters

The Lunar New Year festivities that ended recently left behind heaps of wasted food and trash, as is the norm. But there is another environmental impact that pretty much goes unnoticed – air pollution from the burning of joss sticks, joss paper and fireworks.

The burning not only emits smoke that is a nuisance, but also harmful pollutants, says the Malaysia Green Blue Environmental Protection Association in highlighting this over-looked matter.