In order to meet net-zero targets and tackle human-induced emissions, an individual named Stuart Westie from Williams Lake in British Columbia, Canada, is pushing for change in the province to permit alkaline hydrolysis as an alternative to cremation.
Water cremation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, is a process that uses a robust alkaline solution to dissolve organic materials, leaving behind bones and other non-organic remains.
Water cremation is akin to using soap
It's akin to using soap that breaks down dirt, but on a larger scale and with certain chemicals and temperatures.
Currently, this type of cremation is legal only in Canadian locations: Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Northwest Territories.
This type of cremation is considered sustainable because it releases fewer carbon emissions, uses less energy, allows for chemical recycling, and produces minimal air pollution compared to traditional cremation methods.
"The body is put into a machine. They use normal city water, add a chemical like potassium chloride – turn the heat up to 150 degrees, and in five hours, you are no more," explained Westie to The Williams Lake Tribute.
"The bones that are left can be crunched up and put in an urn – also, all of your fillings are still there – any hip replacements remain, etc."
During the meeting on January 16, the council voted to propose a resolution advocating for changes to the law to allow alkaline hydrolysis as an alternative to traditional cremation.
They also decided to collaborate with the Cariboo Regional District on the same issue, as Westie intended to present the proposal at their board meeting on February 8.
Environmental benefits of alkaline hydrolysis
Westie emphasized the environmental benefits of alkaline hydrolysis compared to flame-based cremation, citing its significantly lower carbon emissions.
Based on the 2023 Annual Report from CANA, cremation has become the preferred method of disposition for a minimum of 59 percent of all deaths in the United States, reported Funeral Industry News.
Furthermore, they added that in 2022, 3,273,705 deaths were recorded in the U.S., 59 percent of those being flame cremations, according to CANA and NFDA.
This equates to 1,931,485 cremations, the emission volume comparable to powering almost two million three-bedroom homes for a week or filling nearly two million gas tanks.
As per The Williams Lake Tribune, the 76-year-old man told the council during a committee of the whole meeting:
"I am hoping to put some pressure on by getting you people to refer a resolution to the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) who would hopefully promote it to the UBCM."
However, Juliette O'Keeffe, an environmental health and knowledge translation scientist employed in British Columbia for the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health, mentioned that aquamation has not experienced widespread adoption in regions where it is legally permitted.
"It is a bit of an emerging technology, and that may be the reason why there hasn't been much demand to date for it," she added.
She explained that the process utilizes a potent alkaline solution, along with pressure and heat within a vessel, to dissolve the organic components of the human body, resulting in no emissions to the air as seen in traditional cremation methods.
The effluent produced by the system contains a strong alkaline solution, which can be corrosive. Still, its intensity varies based on whether the aquamation system operates at low or high temperatures.
"They have slightly different operating parameters, but generally the heat, plus the strong alkali, really destroys any pathogens of note, as long as it is operated as it is intended to."
A representative from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General in British Columbia has affirmed that the ministry is still examining the matter. That said, there is currently no expected timeline for any decisions or actions.
Originally published on Interesting Engineering : Original article