Forget Cremation, Body Liquefaction Launches In Florida Funeral Home As Part of Green Movement

The Anderson-McQueen funeral home in St Petersburg is on the vanguard of what promises to be a less toxic day of disposing our remains, by installing a machine that works by dissolving the body in heated alkaline water.

The United Kindom’s BBC news said that the chamber, building by Resomation Ltd of Scotland, is expected to be used for the first time in a few weeks. The company expects to legislative or regulatory permission to use and sell the machines throughout the U.S., Canada and in Europe. Price information was not available.

Sandy Sullivan (Founder and Managing Director) and Craig Sinclair (Engineering Director) , pictured left alongside the brand new Resomator S750.

“The makers claim the process produces a third less greenhouse gas than cremation, uses a seventh of the energy, and allows for the complete separation of dental amalgam for safe disposal,” writes the BBC’s Neil Bowdier. “Mercury from amalgam vaporised in crematoria is blamed for up to 16% of UK airborne mercury emissions, and many UK crematoria are currently fitting mercury filtration systems to meet reduced emission targets.”

“Resomation was developed in response to the public’s increasing environmental concerns,” company founder Sandy Sullivan told BBC News. “It gives them that working third choice, which allows them to express those concerns in a very positive and I think personal way.”

“The system works by submerging the body in a solution of water and potassium hydroxide which is pressurised to 10 atmospheres and heated to 180C for between two-and-a-half and three hours. Body tissue is dissolved and the liquid poured into the municipal water system. Mr Sullivan, a biochemist by training, says tests have proven the effluent is sterile and contains no DNA, and poses no environmental risk.”

“A funeral involving resomation is exactly the same as one involving cremation until the point at which the coffin is committed from view. In Resomation the coffin is placed into a Resomator, and instead of fire, uses a water and alkali based method – also known as alkaline hydrolysis – to break the body down chemically,” says the company.

“The process is normally 2-3 hours long, the same length of time as an average cremation and once complete, a sterile liquid and bone ash remain.  The sterile liquid is returned to the water cycle and just like cremation the bone ash remains are placed in an urn and returned to loved ones.”

See the state summaries below for legislative action, effective date of new laws and the status of any agency public hearing.

California (2010 Legislation)

Update 05/11/2011:
On May 11, 2011, AB 4 appeared on the Assembly Appropriations Committee agenda. The bill was not heard in committee due to projected agency budget cost of more than $150,000 for FY 11/12. (Given the austere budget deficit situation in California, any projected cost to implement a new program in excess of $150,000 (without sufficient program revenue) is placed in a “Suspense file” until further notice. While AB 4 includes a fee structure similar to existing statute for cremation, start-up costs to the state before fees could be collected to offset costs, triggered the referral to Suspense.

Asm. Jeff Miller, the bill sponsor, is optimistic that he can convince members of the Assembly to move the bill forward because it will ultimately generate revenue, create new job opportunities and improve the environment.

Update: 04/27/2011
The California Assembly Committee on Profession, Business and Consumer Protection voted 5-0 to approve AB 4 by Asm. Jeff Miller. The bill now goes to the Committee on Appropriations before reaching the full Assembly. The bill is a work product of a series of stakeholder meetings over the past several months. The new bill creates a separate permitting, licensing and regulatory statute for alkaline hydrolysis that is parallel (very similar) to existing statutes for cremation.

This past year (2010) AB 2283 by Asm. Miller enjoyed unanimous, bi-partisan support in the Assembly. But, the legislation was never heard in the Senate because the Water Quality Committee staff and the Business and Professions Committee staff were not able to complete their research and analysis of the BIO Cremation process before adjournment.

As written, AB 4 is expected to pass the California Assembly in 2011. If you would like to see a copy of the legislation as introduced, please click here.

Colorado (2011 Law)

On April 6, 2011, Governor John W Hickenlooper signed into law HB 11-1178. The legislation was supported by the Colorado Funeral Directors Association. The bill made several technical changes to existing law, including the deletion of “direct exposure to intense heat” as the only acceptable method for cremation. This change now makes it possible to use alkaline hydrolysis as a method of final disposition. The effective date of the new law is August 10, 2011.

If you would like to see a copy of the new law, please click here.

Florida (2009 Law)

In 2009 the Florida Deathcare Coalition supported an industry bill to authorized columbaria on college campuses and a technical amendment to existing statutes to authorize bio cremation using alkaline hydrolysis. This simple change was made possible by a legislative change in 2004 that codified many of the proposed changes in the CANA Model Law.

The effective date of the new law is July 1, 2009. On August 5, 2009 the Florida Funeral Cemetery and Consumer Services Board reviewed the new legislation, a legal analysis of the new changes and determined that no additional rule-making was necessary for implementation or compliance.

In summer of 2010, Matthews Cremation Division will install the first commercial human bio cremator in St. Petersburg, Florida.

To read a copy of the new law, click here…

Kansas (2010 Law/Rule-making to follow)

Kansas legislators have approved bio cremation using alkaline hydrolysis. Amendment language, taken from the CANA Model Law, was added to Senate Substitute for House Bill 2310, a conference committee bill. The effective date of the new law is July 1, 2011. During the interim, the Kansas State Board of Mortuary Arts will conduct public workshops for rule-making.

To read a copy of the new law, click here…

Maine (2009 Administrative Rule)

In June 2009, the Division of Environmental Health at the Department of Health and Human Services held a public workshop to consider changes to “Rules for Establishment and Operation of Crematoria” (144 CMR 244).

Public testimony and proposed rule language was presented by Matthews Cremation Division to explain the Bio cremation process. Public testimony from the Maine Funeral Consumer Advocacy and crematory owners supported adoption of the bio cremation language.

The agency reviewed the public testimony (based on statutory authority) and submitted a new rule to the Maine Attorney General for legal review. The Attorney General approved the new rule effective October 26, 2009.

To read a copy of the administrative rule, click here….

Maryland (2010 Law/Rule-making to follow)

The Maryland Legislature has passed HB 995 into law. The bill incorporates language taken from the CANA Model Law. The effective date is October 1, 2011. The new law also directs the State Board of Morticians to adopt rules and regulations no later than the effective date of the new law.

To read a copy of the new law, click here…

Minnesota (2006 Law)

The 2006 Legislature enacted 149A.025 relating to alkaline hydrolysis. The new law states that the process of alkaline hydrolysis shall be subject to the same licensing requirements and regulations that apply to cremation, crematories, and cremated remains as described in this chapter.

Presently, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN is the only facility using the bio cremation process (for its anatomical gift program).

To read a copy of the law, click here…

Oregon (2009 Law)

In 2009 the legislature passed SB 796 to require death care consultants to be licensed, along with several other changes. SB 796 by Senator Walker becomes Chapter 709-2009 Laws.

The effective date of the new law is July 14, 2009.

The new law defines ‘Final Disposition’ to mean the burial, interment, cremation, dissolution (meaning bio cremation using alkaline hydrolysis) or other disposition of human remains authorized by board rule. The new law also requires the Oregon Mortuary & Cemetery Board to adopt rules promoting environmentally sound death care practices.

To read a copy of the new law, click here…

Washington (2010 Agency/Regulatory Board Review)

The Funeral & Cemetery Board (within the Department of Licensing) held a board meeting on April 6, 2010 to discuss Resomation (the name used in Europe for the alkaline hydrolysis process).

Public comments were made by representatives/owners of funeral homes and cemeteries in support of legislation to authorize bio cremation. Written testimony and handout material was presented by Matthews Cremation Division.

The agency is reviewing their existing codes to see what legislation may be required for the 2011 Legislative Session.

….Other States to consider BIO Cremation Legislation in 2011

For the states listed below – legislation to authorize BIO Cremation using alkaline hydrolysis is being drafted. If you are interested in supporting this legislation, please contact Brigid Blaschak at Matthews Cremation Division (800) 327-2831 x 118 or email bblaschak@matw.com

Arizona
Illinois
Massachusetts
Michigan
Nebraska
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin

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Tags: death, dying, funerals, green funerals