This shiny new contraption just may be the future of recycling. While the three R's (reduce, reuse, and recycle) are at play here, no one is talking about your spare cardboard. In recent developments, an old system for the disposal of cadavers and farm animals has been applied to a new form of funerary practice. Known by several names such as "bio-cremation", "Aquamation", and particularly "Resomation" (how I will refer to it here), the process of alkaline hydrolysis is used to speed up the natural decomposition of the body. I suppose I should state that resomation and aquamation technically differ based on the temperatures used, however, the main processes are the same: the corpse is placed into the resomation machine in a mixture of water and alkali then left for several hours to decompose. The products of this process are a sterile water that may be recycled into the water supply and the bones of the individual. The bones are then processed into ash with may be returned to the family for memorial purposes. So, so far we have recycle and reuse, now what is really beneficial for the environment and is therefore intriguing to green enthusiasts everywhere is the reduce component. Since there is no formaldehyde used on the body, no harmful chemicals used to neutralize the pH of the water solution, no coffins necessary to take up space, and only a small amount of greenhouse gasses emitted into the atmosphere compared to cremation, the overall environmental impact of resomation is dramatically reduced compared to other funerary practices.
Currently resomation is practiced in Australia, though it is patented in Europe and legalized in 7 states in the USA. One funeral home in Ottawa also is said to have the equipment installed and is currently waiting for legal permission to carry out the procedure. The legality of resomation raises some important questions to be sure regarding the involvement of the state in funerary rights. Should government be allowed to restrict resomation? Why or why not?
Another issue that has been raised surrounding resomation is the fact that while the environmental impact of resomation is dramatically lower than other, more popular funerary practices, the process does not necessarily provide long term benefits for the environment. For example, in green burials where no chemicals and biodegradable coffins are used, flora and fauna may actually be able to use the nutriets from the corpse to continue in their natural growth and energy conversions. In any case, both types of funerary practice provide some alternative to the financially and environmentally costly practices of inhumation and cremation.
Please post your thoughts on resomation, I would love to hear what you think about this new(ish) process!
References:
1. BBC News - New body 'liquefaction' unit unveiled in Florida funeral home. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14114555. [Accessed 21 January 2012].
2. Ottawa Funeral Home waiting To Turn on Resomation-Your Funeral Guy « Your Funeral Guy. [ONLINE] Available at: http://yourfuneralguy.wordpress.com/2010/10/02/ottawa-funeral-home-waiting-to-turn-on-resomation-your-funeral-guy/. [Accessed 21 January 2012].
3. Aquamation, a Form of Cremation: Better for the Environment? - TIME. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2022206,00.html?xid=rss-health. [Accessed 21 January 2012].
