Fourteen civic-run crematoriums are switching from wood to briquettes, a fuel derived from tree waste. Around 6,200 bodies are cremated at these 14 sites every year, and 300 kg of wood, obtained from two trees, are used on one pyre, said officials. Thousands of trees can be saved by using briquettes for cremations.

There are around 1,000 wood pyres at 54 Hindu crematoriums across the city, along with PNG and electrical pyres. Now, the BMC has decided to use briquettes in 14 crematoriums that may save 1,860 tonne (18.6 lakh kg) of tree wood every year.