diff --git a/daemon/codec.c b/daemon/codec.c
index 9c3a38f4e..8e20384af 100644
--- a/daemon/codec.c
+++ b/daemon/codec.c
@@ -2960,7 +2960,7 @@ bool codec_parse_payload_type(rtp_payload_type *pt, const str *codec_str) {
 }
 
 rtp_payload_type *codec_make_payload_type(const str *codec_str, enum media_type type) {
-	__auto_type pt = memory_arena_alloc0(rtp_payload_type);
+	__auto_type pt = memory_arena_alloc0_lw(rtp_payload_type);
 
 	if (!codec_parse_payload_type(pt, codec_str)) {
 		payload_type_free(pt);
@@ -3033,17 +3033,17 @@ void codec_init_payload_type(rtp_payload_type *pt, enum media_type type) {
 				pt->clock_rate);
 
 	// allocate strings
-	pt->encoding = call_str_cpy(&pt->encoding);
-	pt->encoding_with_params = call_str_cpy_c(full_encoding);
-	pt->encoding_with_full_params = call_str_cpy_c(full_full_encoding);
-	pt->encoding_parameters = call_str_cpy_c(params);
-	pt->format_parameters = call_str_cpy(&pt->format_parameters);
-	pt->codec_opts = call_str_cpy(&pt->codec_opts);
+	pt->encoding = memory_arena_str_cpy_lw(&pt->encoding);
+	pt->encoding_with_params = memory_arena_str_cpy_c_lw(full_encoding);
+	pt->encoding_with_full_params = memory_arena_str_cpy_c_lw(full_full_encoding);
+	pt->encoding_parameters = memory_arena_str_cpy_c_lw(params);
+	pt->format_parameters = memory_arena_str_cpy_lw(&pt->format_parameters);
+	pt->codec_opts = memory_arena_str_cpy_lw(&pt->codec_opts);
 
 	// allocate everything from the rtcp-fb list
 	for (__auto_type l = pt->rtcp_fb.head; l; l = l->next) {
 		str *fb = l->data;
-		l->data = call_str_dup(fb);
+		l->data = memory_arena_str_dup_lw(fb);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -5245,12 +5245,19 @@ static rtp_payload_type *codec_add_payload_type(const str *codec, struct call_me
 
 
 void payload_type_clear(rtp_payload_type *p) {
-	t_queue_clear(&p->rtcp_fb);
+	t_queue_clear_full(&p->rtcp_fb, memory_arena_str_dup_free_lw);
+	memory_arena_free_lw(p->encoding.s);
+	memory_arena_free_lw(p->encoding_with_params.s);
+	memory_arena_free_lw(p->encoding_with_full_params.s);
+	memory_arena_free_lw(p->encoding_parameters.s);
+	memory_arena_free_lw(p->format_parameters.s);
+	memory_arena_free_lw(p->codec_opts.s);
 	ZERO(*p);
 	p->payload_type = -1;
 }
 void payload_type_free(rtp_payload_type *p) {
 	payload_type_clear(p);
+	memory_arena_free_lw(p);
 }
 void payload_type_destroy(rtp_payload_type **p) {
 	if (*p)
@@ -5274,7 +5281,7 @@ static void rtp_payload_type_copy(rtp_payload_type *dst, const rtp_payload_type
 }
 
 rtp_payload_type *rtp_payload_type_dup(const rtp_payload_type *pt) {
-	__auto_type pt_copy = memory_arena_alloc0(rtp_payload_type);
+	__auto_type pt_copy = memory_arena_alloc0_lw(rtp_payload_type);
 	rtp_payload_type_copy(pt_copy, pt);
 	return pt_copy;
 }
@@ -5327,8 +5334,10 @@ static int __codec_options_set1(call_t *call, rtp_payload_type *pt, const str *e
 	// match - apply options
 	if (pt_parsed->bitrate)
 		pt->bitrate = pt_parsed->bitrate;
-	if (!pt->codec_opts.len && pt_parsed->codec_opts.len)
-		pt->codec_opts = pt_parsed->codec_opts;
+	if (!pt->codec_opts.len && pt_parsed->codec_opts.len) {
+		memory_arena_free_lw(pt->codec_opts.s);
+		pt->codec_opts = memory_arena_str_cpy_lw(&pt_parsed->codec_opts);
+	}
 	payload_type_free(pt_parsed);
 	return 1;
 }
@@ -5839,7 +5848,7 @@ void __codec_store_populate(struct codec_store *dst, struct codec_store *src, st
 			pt->for_transcoding = orig_pt->for_transcoding;
 			pt->accepted = orig_pt->accepted;
 			pt->bitrate = orig_pt->bitrate;
-			pt->codec_opts = orig_pt->codec_opts;
+			pt->codec_opts = memory_arena_str_cpy_lw(&orig_pt->codec_opts);
 			if (pt->for_transcoding)
 				codec_touched(dst, pt);
 		}
diff --git a/daemon/main.c b/daemon/main.c
index 0cd8cab63..1bdb1a70f 100644
--- a/daemon/main.c
+++ b/daemon/main.c
@@ -843,6 +843,7 @@ static void options(int *argc, char ***argv, charp_ht templates) {
 #endif
 		{ "log-format",	0, 0,	G_OPTION_ARG_STRING,	&log_format,	"Log prefix format",		"default|parsable"},
 		{ "xmlrpc-format",'x', 0, G_OPTION_ARG_INT,	&rtpe_config.fmt,	"XMLRPC timeout request format to use. 0: SEMS DI, 1: call-id only, 2: Kamailio",	"INT"	},
+		{ "lightweight",0,0,	G_OPTION_ARG_NONE,	&rtpe_config.lightweight,	"Decrease use of memory arenas",	NULL	},
 		{ "num-threads",  0, 0, G_OPTION_ARG_INT,	&rtpe_config.num_threads,	"Number of worker threads to create",	"INT"	},
 		{ "media-num-threads",  0, 0, G_OPTION_ARG_INT,	&rtpe_config.media_num_threads,	"Number of worker threads for media playback",	"INT"	},
 		{ "kernel-num-threads", 0, 0, G_OPTION_ARG_INT,	&rtpe_config.kernel_num_threads,"Number of worker threads for kernel RTP",	"INT"	},
@@ -1851,6 +1852,9 @@ static void init_everything(charp_ht templates) {
 static void create_everything(void) {
 	rtpe_now = now_us();
 
+	if (rtpe_config.lightweight || getenv("RTPENGINE_LIGHTWEIGHT"))
+		memory_arena_set_leightweight();
+
 	// either one global poller, or one per thread for media sockets plus one for control sockets
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBURING
 	if (rtpe_config.common.io_uring) {
diff --git a/daemon/media_player.c b/daemon/media_player.c
index c0d770cf9..6f2fd7134 100644
--- a/daemon/media_player.c
+++ b/daemon/media_player.c
@@ -922,7 +922,11 @@ static bool media_player_cache_entry_init(struct media_player *mp, const rtp_pay
 
 	// steal coder data
 	entry->coder = mp->coder;
+
+	rtp_payload_type src_pt_cpy = mp->coder.handler->source_pt;
+	rtp_payload_type dst_pt_cpy = mp->coder.handler->dest_pt;
 	ZERO(mp->coder);
+
 	mp->coder.duration = entry->coder.duration; // retain this for reporting
 	if (entry->coder.avioctx)
 		entry->coder.avioctx->opaque = &entry->coder; // format context pointer must point to new coder
@@ -936,6 +940,9 @@ static bool media_player_cache_entry_init(struct media_player *mp, const rtp_pay
 	codec_init_payload_type(&entry->coder.handler->dest_pt, MT_UNKNOWN);
 	call_memory_arena_set(mp->call);
 
+	payload_type_clear(&src_pt_cpy);
+	payload_type_clear(&dst_pt_cpy);
+
 	// use low priority (10 nice)
 	thread_create_detach_prio(media_player_cache_entry_decoder_thread, obj_get(entry), NULL, 10, "mp decoder");
 
diff --git a/daemon/memory_arena.c b/daemon/memory_arena.c
index eaea35137..90bb73b42 100644
--- a/daemon/memory_arena.c
+++ b/daemon/memory_arena.c
@@ -11,3 +11,16 @@ void memory_arena_free(void *p) {
 	size_t *s = p; // first element is the size
 	munmap(p, *s);
 }
+
+
+static void dummy_free(void *p) { }
+
+void *(*__memory_arena_alloc_lw)(size_t len) = __memory_arena_alloc;
+void *(*__memory_arena_alloc0_lw)(size_t len) = __memory_arena_alloc0;
+void (*memory_arena_free_lw)(void *) = dummy_free;
+
+void memory_arena_set_leightweight(void) {
+	__memory_arena_alloc_lw = g_malloc;
+	__memory_arena_alloc0_lw = g_malloc0;
+	memory_arena_free_lw = g_free;
+}
diff --git a/daemon/sdp.c b/daemon/sdp.c
index 23552c65e..362f347b4 100644
--- a/daemon/sdp.c
+++ b/daemon/sdp.c
@@ -1659,7 +1659,7 @@ static bool __rtp_payload_types(struct stream_params *sp, struct sdp_media *medi
 		ptrfc = rtp_get_rfc_payload_type(i);
 		ptl = g_hash_table_lookup(ht_rtpmap, GINT_TO_POINTER(i));
 
-		pt = memory_arena_alloc0(rtp_payload_type);
+		pt = memory_arena_alloc0_lw(rtp_payload_type);
 		if (ptl)
 			*pt = *ptl;
 		else if (ptrfc)
diff --git a/docs/rtpengine.md b/docs/rtpengine.md
index aeac15665..f8ee0180f 100644
--- a/docs/rtpengine.md
+++ b/docs/rtpengine.md
@@ -447,6 +447,16 @@ call to inject-DTMF won't be sent to __\-\-dtmf-log-dest=__ or __\-\-listen-tcp-
     Suffix to be added to particular data fields in log files that are deemed
     sensitive and/or private information. Defaults to an empty string.
 
+- __\-\-lightweight__
+
+    Decrease use of memory arenas. This is mostly beneficial for use cases
+    involving long-running calls which see a lot of session updates, and
+    results in a smaller memory footprint, at the expense of higher CPU usage
+    due to heavier use of the system's memory allocator.
+
+    This mode can also be enabled by setting the environment variable
+    `RTPENGINE_LIGHTWEIGHT` to any value.
+
 - __\-\-num-threads=__*INT*
 
     How many worker threads to create, must be at least one.
diff --git a/include/call.h b/include/call.h
index 1837cd721..9246d7ebf 100644
--- a/include/call.h
+++ b/include/call.h
@@ -1023,7 +1023,6 @@ G_DEFINE_AUTO_CLEANUP_CLEAR_FUNC(call_q, call_q_unlock_release);
 #include "rtp.h"
 
 #define call_malloc memory_arena_alloc
-#define call_dup memory_arena_dup
 
 #define call_strdup memory_arena_strdup
 #define call_strdup_str memory_arena_strdup_str
diff --git a/include/main.h b/include/main.h
index 75513a506..35bd34838 100644
--- a/include/main.h
+++ b/include/main.h
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ enum endpoint_learning {
 	X(amr_cn_dtx) \
 	X(evs_cn_dtx) \
 	X(moh_prevent_double_hold) \
+	X(lightweight) \
 
 #define RTPE_CONFIG_CHARP_PARAMS \
 	X(b2b_url) \
diff --git a/include/memory_arena.h b/include/memory_arena.h
index 0d7a2be69..03f46ee73 100644
--- a/include/memory_arena.h
+++ b/include/memory_arena.h
@@ -16,12 +16,15 @@ INLINE void *__memory_arena_alloc(size_t len) {
 	ret = arena_alloc(memory_arena, len);
 	return ret;
 }
+
 #define memory_arena_alloc(type) ((type *) __memory_arena_alloc(sizeof(type)))
+
 INLINE void *__memory_arena_alloc0(size_t len) {
 	void *ret = __memory_arena_alloc(len);
 	memset(ret, 0, len);
 	return ret;
 }
+
 #define memory_arena_alloc0(type) ((type *) __memory_arena_alloc0(sizeof(type)))
 
 INLINE char *__memory_arena_memdup(const void *b, size_t len) {
@@ -81,4 +84,56 @@ INLINE str *memory_arena_str_dup(const str *in) {
 	return out;
 }
 
+
+extern void *(*__memory_arena_alloc_lw)(size_t len);
+extern void *(*__memory_arena_alloc0_lw)(size_t len);
+extern void (*memory_arena_free_lw)(void *);
+
+#define memory_arena_alloc0_lw(type) ((type *) __memory_arena_alloc0_lw(sizeof(type)))
+#define memory_arena_alloc_lw(type) ((type *) __memory_arena_alloc_lw(sizeof(type)))
+
+INLINE char *memory_arena_dup_lw(const char *b, size_t len) {
+	char *ret = __memory_arena_alloc_lw(len + 1);
+	memcpy(ret, b, len);
+	ret[len] = '\0';
+	return ret;
+}
+INLINE char *memory_arena_strdup_len_lw(const char *s, size_t len) {
+	if (!s)
+		return NULL;
+	return memory_arena_dup_lw(s, len);
+}
+INLINE str memory_arena_str_cpy_fn_lw(const char *in, size_t len) {
+	str out;
+	if (!in) {
+		out = STR_NULL;
+		return out;
+	}
+	out.s = memory_arena_strdup_len_lw(in, len);
+	out.len = len;
+	out.arena = NULL;
+	return out;
+}
+INLINE str memory_arena_str_cpy_lw(const str *in) {
+	return memory_arena_str_cpy_fn_lw((in ? in->s : NULL), (in ? in->len : 0));
+}
+INLINE str memory_arena_str_cpy_len_lw(const char *in, size_t len) {
+	return memory_arena_str_cpy_fn_lw(in, len);
+}
+INLINE str memory_arena_str_cpy_c_lw(const char *in) {
+	return memory_arena_str_cpy_len_lw(in, in ? strlen(in) : 0);
+}
+INLINE str *memory_arena_str_dup_lw(const str *in) {
+	__auto_type out = memory_arena_alloc_lw(str);
+	*out = memory_arena_str_cpy_fn_lw(in->s, in->len);
+	return out;
+}
+
+INLINE void memory_arena_str_dup_free_lw(str *s) {
+	memory_arena_free_lw(s->s);
+	memory_arena_free_lw(s);
+}
+
+void memory_arena_set_leightweight(void);
+
 #endif