Alkaline hydrolysis, a process by which remains are dissolved (with lye, heat, and pressure), is the wave of the future in funeral arrangements ... or is it? With it becoming a viable solution to environmental woes in the mortuary world as well as an answer for an ever-increasing land-use issue of cemeteries, many states still won't allow it's approval because it is an "undignified" way to deal with human remains.
On the one hand, our bodies are merely vessles for our minds and souls while we are earth-bound (and I'm doing this gently so as not to offend anyone), but on the other hand, we are to respect those vessels when we pass? Why? Simply because we have for millions of years since the first homosapiens roamed the planet?
In an MSNBC article entitled "A rival to burial: Dissolving bodies with lye" the author cites strong reasons to promote such a practice, while the only opposition appears to be from religious leaders and state lawmakers. He also shows that this is a practice that is already used to safely dispose of human and animal remains in an environmentally-friendly manner.
Personally, I think that if express my final wishes by leaving behind written, signed, and notarized instructions, why should I not be able to use this option? There is no way a family member could attempt to defile my carcass, so to speak, when they have that documentation to support their decision. Right?
What do YOU think? Should it be the individual's decision? Why is this any more undignified than cremation followed by distribution of the ashes? Should states openly disallow this option based on custom and traditional practices? Is this an option YOU might consider? If a family member expressed desire for such final arrangements, would you attempt to discourage them? Or would you embrace this option?
---UPDATE to answer cost questions---
"Manchester funeral director Chad Corbin wants to operate a $300,000 cylinder in New Hampshire. He said that an alkaline hydrolysis operation is more expensive to set up than a crematorium but that he would charge customers about as much as he would for cremation." --- from the article referenced above.
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Comments: 87
Sing everyone.
I don't live near my parents' graves, and don't get to visit. It makes me really sad. I know, though, that it wouldn't occur to my kids to visit grandma and grandpa (they never knew my mother, and barely knew my father), within a generation or so there is no reason to "be" there anymore.
It seems infinitely more practical to get rid of as much of me as possible, and to argue the religious who believe their corpse needs to be preserved for the resurrection, people who died a few hundred years ago are dust there, and they are to be given new, glorified bodies at the resurrection - can God not find bits of my atoms for a similar resurrection?
Hmmm...
In the end, I know the disposal of my remains is actually the decision of those who remain behind. Whatever gives them most comfort in my death is best for THEM. I won't be around, so why should I care?
Anyone else, honor their wishes and their family's sensitivities.
I would obviously honor the wishes of my loved ones.
As for whether the state can limit the options, the can of course. They do now (no public funeral pyres as far as I know - talk about going out in a blaze of glory). Besides the religious and legal limitations, there are general "societal" mores that govern what is "acceptable" and/or show sensitivity. My guess is the dissolution method will take some getting used to, though clearly as the population of the world continues to expand there will be a need to evaluate whether land for burial is sustainable.
I prefer to be cremated and my ashes spread in the forest near here. We took my Mom and Brother to the beach and spread theirs in the surf there. (not sure if it was even legal actually?)
For sure.
in there, We both loved going to the shore.
I'll opt for creamtion and scatter me (downwind please). "The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind"
Be well.
There is a way to get around the space problem, the ground can easily be reused after a couple of years time.
Bury me with leaves and other organic matter, let it sit for five of six years...
Then plant a garden over top of me.
I use to make a joke about my choice, saying that I would put a clause in my will, that my husband must carry me on all dates, and if the woman asked what he was holding, he was to explain...and what ever woman could accept me (ie not run away screaming) with him still would be the woman I would most trust to care for my children. LOL (I would never do that though...lol)
In Sweden you can only be buried in a grave for 50 years, then it gets turned over to someone else. Don't ask me what they do with the bones. Cremate?
I have been telling people for many years that I want to be cremated, but this could change my mind.
My father never said what he wanted, but my mother did say that she wanted to be cremated.
I hope I did the right thing in having them both cremated.
I'm not sure what I want.
The future will decide.
I've always disliked the fact that their are so many rediculous policies surrounding the disposal of bodies.
Lora, where does one go to sign up for the whole body donar, thing.
If not these two options, I'd want to be cremated, and then have the ashes mixed into the compost that goes into the vegetable garden. That way, I can retun, as a juicey tomatoe.
I'd have to think about it; I've never heard of this option before. I don't really know what I plan to have done; I guess, since I'm not getting any younger, I'd better figure it out! LOL
I want to be buried the whole cremation thing kinda creeps me out. I know that it sounds silly. But the whole burning thing.... And lye? Hell no!
Karen
I am a donor also. I do not know how they decide what they might want to use from you and how it is decided what to do with the rest. I once applied for a job where you were supposed to ask families for eye parts. Maybe each body part has a group that contacts the relatives to ask for parts.
I actually think the old South way that was so common until recently was best:
Take the far corner of your land, and make it your family plot.
Although I really did want to spare some ashes for that pretty cemetery near the Nut in Tasmania - always wanted to go back there, and I can think of worse places to spend eternity. Not that I'm there, but it's a nice thought...
As far as following someone else's wishes, most definitely I would follow their wishes.