Skip to main content

Secondary menu

User menu

  • Join
  • OR
  • Log In

MNN - Mother Nature Network

Sunday, May 19, 2013
SPECIAL FEATURES:
  • Leaderboard
  • Nest
  • TreeHugger
  • Photos
  • Blogs
  • SB 2013
  • Joy of Less

Search form

Social links

Main menu

  • Earth Matters
    • Browse all »
    • Animals
    • Weather
    • Energy
    • Politics
    • Space
    • Translating Uncle Sam
    • Wilderness & Resources
  • Health
    • Browse all »
    • Allergies
    • Fitness & Well-Being
    • Healthy Spaces
  • Lifestyle
    • Browse all »
    • Arts & Culture
    • Travel
    • Natural Beauty & Fashion
    • Recycling
    • Responsible Living
  • Green Tech
    • Browse all »
    • Computers
    • Gadgets & Electronics
    • Research & Innovations
    • Transportation
  • Eco-Biz & Money
    • Browse all »
    • Green Workplace
    • Personal Finance
    • Sustainable Business Practices
  • Food & Drink
    • Browse all »
    • Beverages
    • Healthy Eating
    • Recipes
  • Your Home
    • Browse all »
    • At Home
    • Organic Farming & Gardening
    • Remodeling & Design
  • Family
    • Browse all »
    • Babies & Pregnancy
    • Family Activities
    • Pets
    • Protection & Safety

Breadcrumb Navigation

MNN.COM › Green Tech › Research & Innovations
    x
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Bookmark and ShareShare
  • Earn Points
    What's this?
Green (gross?) cremation method produces liquid fertilizer
New climate-friendly cremation method uses water and lye to transform human remains into 200 gallons of liquid fertilizer.

By

Stephanie Rogers
Mon, Dec 07 2009 at 3:20 PM
 42

Related Topics:

Climate Change, Greenhouse Gases, Environmentalism

Photo: Resomation Ltd.

There are an awful lot of people on the planet, and modern methods for disposing of human remains aren’t exactly earth-friendly. A new alternative to cremation and burial could change that — and even increase food production for those still living — if we can get past the ‘ick factor’ of liquefying our dead relatives. 
 
"Resomation" is the process of disposing of human corpses through alkaline hydrolysis, which occurs when the body is sealed inside a vault-like tube filled with water and lye and steam-heated to 300 degrees. Three hours later, some powdery bone fragments and 200 gallons of fluid are all that remains.
 
Essentially, Resomation — which was developed by Scottish company Resomation Ltd. — is just like the natural process of decomposition, but on fast-forward. The fluid can be safely dumped into sewer systems or even used as fertilizer on farms and gardens — a proposal that some say comes a little too close to ‘Soylent Green’ for comfort.
 
But unlike cremation and traditional burial, alkaline hydrolysis doesn’t lead to toxic chemicals like dioxin and formaldehyde being released into the atmosphere or water supply. It also uses 80 percent less energy than standard cremation.
 
Despite its apparent eco-friendliness, it’s improbable that Resomation will become a common way to deal with human remains any time soon. It seems unlikely at best that Americans will accept pouring what’s left of a loved one down a drain or consuming food that has been sprayed with corpse juice.
 
But as world leaders struggle to deal with the immense specter of global warming, solutions like Resomation may become more palatable — and it’s already accepted by many religious faiths, including Catholicism.
 
“We’re not opposed to it. Environmentally, it seems like the right thing to do,” says Catholic Cemeteries manager of marketing Amy Profenna.

You might also like:

Join the conversation

Comments: 42
Sign in with one of these accounts to add your comment.
Log in or
create an account
  • Sign in using this account:
anonymous
Grave Oct 19 2011 at 10:28 PM

Why do i foresee giant pools where everybody pours everybody's remains in and go visit and sombody charging "rent" for your poor loved one to be there and be visitable.

|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
topher Sep 13 2011 at 9:07 AM

if you're an atheist then your body is just matter and energy, that would be absorbed and brought back to life again in the tree. They should use it to fertilize a tree then have tree graveyards. that would be beautiful

|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
Ed Gazvoda Mar 21 2011 at 1:10 PM

Jeff Edwards, Edwards Funeral Home in Columbus OH, is the first to offer this option at a funeral home.On January 27, he installed a system from CycledLife to perform the first alkali disposition at a funeral home. All of his "cremation" families have decided to go with the more environmental approach to final disposition.

|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
Wendy Mar 21 2011 at 11:47 AM

What a great thing I would totally be willing to do this with myself/family...I am an atheist however

|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
Marissa Pitts Feb 15 2011 at 1:04 PM

this could be a good way to help and i totally agree with the first comment!!!

|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
Michel Wisper Nov 29 2010 at 5:42 PM
OK, I'm the first to admit I'm an agnostic, but you wigwams out there worrying about preserving your human form to be elevated to Heaven when God/whatever return s to Earth for you are nuts! Have none of you seen what happens to any animal's tissue once its life ceases? What do you imagine is going to be left after x number of months/years buried in the ground? The "sanctity of the human form" is total crap. Grow up and live with it. The only people who want you to believe you're going to survive
.... More
the inevitable decomposition are either the funeral industry who what you to believe all their air-tight hermetically sealed caskets are really going to prevent it so they can charge your grieving family big bucks for it, or the insanely corrupt and VERY wealthy Christian chuches who also make big bucks off your hopeless naivete. You want a lesson in the despicable funeral industry, read Elisabeth Kubler-Ross' "The American Way of Death"...it';s a real eye-opener. We are not sacred beings to be spared the ravages of decomposition and eventual disappearance after death, but simply one other biological organism on this planet, subject to the same laws as all the rest. Face it and move on. There's nothing after death but non-existence. At least use the cleanest and most eco-friendly means available to dispose of your sorry carcasses. Show the planet a little respect.
|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
Matt Nov 19 2010 at 3:04 PM
It is understandable that there are different takes on this issue....Checking the demographic's for the % of u.s. citizens who utilize cremation ...not surprising to find that my home state Hawaii is at the top of the list for people choosing cremation..close to 60%...And at the bottom of the list sits states from "The Bible Belt",...Alabama at #1.... I am a believer in choice...duh...of course ...I would like to speak with anyone whom is in favor of cremation and unique ways of celebrating this
.... More
time of life... captainfine@hotmail.com I have business idea's in mind and am looking for a partner! 970 581 7346
|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
MNN User Aug 24 2010 at 11:58 PM
My Latin teacher would have taken a ruler to the hand of the person who decided to use a word derived from cremāre to describe a process, alkaline hydrolysis, that provides a family with an abundance of remains, not a few ashes. You contend the world has been misled into thinking of alkaline hydrolysis as being another form of cremation. It is time to stop this madness. A cremation uses incineration and evaporation to reduce human remains to cremains. The cremains returned to a family are comprised
.... More
of roughly 75% of the pre-incineration mass of the bones or just 4-5% of the total body. The cremains contain a small amount of residue of others who have been previously cremated. Conversely, some of one's cremains will be given to other families. Alkaline hydrolysis differs considerably from cremation. With a CycledBurial(TM) and with an unsterile burial, the entire body is available to a family for interment. Unlike cremation, there is no comingling of remains with either an unsterile burial or a CycledBurial. Incineration and evaporation are not processes used by CycledLife's alkaline hydrolysis systems. The idea of linking alkaline hydrolysis with a cremation, not burial, is being promoted by those involved in the cremation industry. Rightfully, they see alkaline hydrolysis as the future, not cremation. You have the world's largest crematory manufacturer calling alkaline hydrolysis some form of cremation. You have CANA contorting the meaning of cremation to include alkaline hydrolysis: (This definition covers a variety of technologies that may be applied in order to achieve reduction to bone fragments, including traditional flame-based cremation, calcination and alkaline hydrolysis.). The laws that have been passed to change the definition of cremation to include alkaline hydrolysis are likely unenforceable due to conflicts within the defined terms in the bills or statutes. These states may have unwittingly relied on a crematory manufacturer and an association of 1,200 crematory operators to provide language for new laws and regulations for a process that will make crematories obsolete. CANA is not the right organization to protect this emerging alkaline hydrolysis industry. There needs to be an alkaline hydrolysis association that represents the interest of this new process. It is a disservice to consumers to link a process that solves the problems related to final disposition of human remains with the cremation process that harms the unborn by releasing mercury vapor, consumes a lot of finite fossil fuel, and release numerous other pollutants into the air. Tying a breakthrough technology to a dying one is patently unfair. Alkaline hydrolysis should be viewed for what it truly is - amicus humani generis. www.CycledLife.com
|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
Kathryn Burdett Apr 13 2010 at 6:52 PM

http://www.thefertilizerguide.com/

We've been promoting more natural methods of fertilizing for 30 years by supplying farmers, growers and home gardeners with quality liquid, organic based fertilizers.

Recently we decided to help out by developing a web-site to act as a guide for all things fertilizer. We want people to understand some of the big issues, as well as how to grow great tomatoes!

Good article.

|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
t Jan 20 2010 at 11:32 AM

you truthers [us] truthers are the best writers in the world

|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
KW Jan 14 2010 at 9:41 AM

Resomation is an eco-friendly way to dispose of human remains. The Mayo Clinic and University of Florida use this technique to dispose of cadaver remains after dissection by medical students, which hopefully will become a universal practice at some point. I am a whole body donor to a medical school, and the idea that my leftovers could ultimately be transformed into fertilizer for farms and gardens is life affirming -- something I would definitely prefer.

|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
Husch Fertilizer Dec 22 2009 at 7:53 AM

If you want Organic Fertilizer
http://www.huschfertilizer.com/products-page/fertilizers/
We Provide farmers with consulting and application services, best organic fertilizers to help make your lawn, garden, and fruit trees grow to their full potential.

|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
Husch Fertilizer Dec 21 2009 at 11:47 PM

Organic Fertilizer
http://www.huschfertilizer.com/products-page/fertilizers/
We Provide farmers with consulting and application services, best organic fertilizers to help make your lawn, garden, and fruit trees grow to their full potential.

|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
MatthewSforcina Dec 14 2009 at 7:44 PM

Really..

When do we start?

|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
Guest Dec 13 2009 at 9:21 PM

Climate control being linked to population control at the copenhagen summit ..."UN report projected that if the global population would remain 8 billion by the year 2050 instead of a little more than 9 billion according to medium-growth scenario, "it might result in 1 billion to 2 billion fewer tons of carbon emissions"

|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
jefrois Dec 13 2009 at 8:49 AM

This was all amazingly foreseen in the fantastic Conspiracy Thriller, BLACK ROAD 2012---almost prophetic. Explosive, controversial, a 432 page political thriller that explains Everything! I got it on Amazon.

http://tinyurl.com/Paranormal-Detective-Thriller

|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
dak Dec 12 2009 at 8:38 AM
Let's just ask ourselves a few questions. Who will profit from using people as fertilizer? Well I can tell you this much, it would make fortunes for the large agri-businesses like Monsanto and others. The very same ones who have gained so much control over our food, and have been involved in genetically altering our food. With socialized health care in the works and the death panels being written in, of course it is not called as such, do you honestly think that there will be no payoffs. Just look
.... More
at the organ harvesting trade in China and else where.
|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
Amber Dec 11 2009 at 9:53 AM

I see no problem with giving back to Earth after I'm gone. This is a process that is nearly identical to cremation (as far as the family can see). The family, or whomever, is still given back the ashes to bury or disperse, and the liquid is used for fertilizer. It also uses less energy than cremation. So, no, I don't think this is diminishing the value of human life at all. In fact, it allows the human life to keep on giving after it's gone.

Bravo!

|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
Ula Dec 11 2009 at 2:04 AM

I can't believe the 'positive' comments from most of you people. This is absolutely disgusting and abhorrent. Whatever happened to human sacredness whether alive or dead? You are so happy diminishing human life to nothing more than that of bacteria and a carbon emitter and you don't even realize what kind of future you are cheering for. It makes me very sad that truly ignorant slogan shouters and greenies are helping the slow eugenic elimination of most people of this earth.

|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
Terry Dec 11 2009 at 12:58 PM

At least you still you have a brain here. I wish those who feel the earth is overpopulated would lead by example.

|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
Urza9814 Dec 11 2009 at 12:06 PM
Wow, how big is your ego? I mean seriously. Why do you care what happens after you die? You're _DEAD_! You're not coming back. It doesn't matter. I mean sure, if it means that much to have your parents or whoever is close to you buried with a gravestone, fine. That's your decision to make - they sure as hell don't care anymore. But personally I don't see the point. The body's gonna decompose anyway. I mean I'm no eco-nut, but why waste perfectly good land for masses of graveyards? Eventually we're
.... More
gonna have to stop doing that. The number of people on Earth keeps increasing, meaning the number of people who die is going to continue to increase, meaning the land area we need to use for graveyards is going to increase. It can't increase forever. Besides, I think this idea is much more dignified than traditional burial. I mean, I prefer the idea of decomposing quickly in a chemical bath to slowly being eaten by worms and bacteria.
|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
Brenda Jan 20 2010 at 2:26 PM

These things have a tendency to be owned somehow by the big Coporation's and what would that give them incentive to do? The incentive would be to insure they always had a supply of the elements that would make their fertilizer right? Hmmm, could that possibly lead them to make sure enough people die so that they always have the supply they need to make their products? With options to participate in this.. I would definitely opt out!

|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
ula Dec 12 2009 at 1:50 AM

It has nothing to do with ego, and, of course, the body decomposes, that is not the point. It's about setting precedent by dehumanizing once living, conscious, sentient beings and opens the floodgates for more abhorrent practices. Ex: some cosmetic companies use aborted fetal tissue in their products because they 'rejuvenate' the skin, the 'Bodies' exhibitions puts murdered Chinese prisoners on display for 'science'...get my point?

|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
Sentient being Dec 11 2009 at 9:39 AM

Yes whatever became of the sanctity of the human form? Years of Darwinian indoctrination by the educational systems has implanted the idea that human life is not that important when compared to "saving" the Earth. Man made global warming is a hoax and this new religion of Climate Change will only benefit the global elite.

|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 
anonymous
Nick Dec 11 2009 at 4:40 PM
Sanctity for the human form? I've never quite heard it said that way. Usually people talk about the sanctity of human "life". We still have that. This is no different than cremation. You are getting all worked up over what basically boils down to a semantic difference. I'm not really sure what "Darwinian indoctrination" is. Are you referring to the teaching of the theory of evolution in our public schools? We also teach our children about the theory of gravity, but I doubt that you would label
.... More
that as "Newtonian indoctrination". The same goes for the theory of relativity, and every other scientific theory we know. In science there are now kings and queens. Evidence and objective observations that can be repeated by anyone trump all else. What makes you think anthropogenic global warming is a hoax?
|
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Report This Post 

Pages

  • 1
  • 2
  • next ›
  • last »

ADD YOUR COMMENT

Log in or register to post comments

EDITORS' PICKS

tease kids in woods

line

tease stargazing

line

tease hand

Advertisement

TODAY'S MOST POPULAR ON

  1. 15 famous people who mysteriously disappeared
  2. 20 ways to reuse coffee grounds, tea leaves
  3. Jon Stewart explains the ‘Monsanto Protection Act’
  4. 13 natural remedies for the ant invasion
  5. How to clean brass naturally
  6. 10 false facts most people think are true
  7. 5 mind-bending facts about dreams
  8. How the rest of the world brushes their teeth
  9. 12 best new features of the Samsung Galaxy S4
  10. Archaeologists unearth 5,000-year-old 'third-gender' caveman
+ Add this to my site
From our sponsor
Civic Accelerator: A Platform for Social Entrepreneurship
A competition between 10 finalists, the program offers seed money for enterprises that inspire, more...
Reinventing the meeting
AltruHelp addresses 5 reasons millennials don't volunteer
The online social platform aims to boost flagging volunteer rates among this generation by making more...
Reinventing the meeting
BOULD housing project creates green ‘learning laboratories’
A Denver-based civic venture constructs high-quality green housing for low-income families while more...
Reinventing the meeting
Students use CareerVillage to get advice from real professionals
Young people from low-income communities submit career questions via the website and get answers more...
Reinventing the meeting
Generation Citizen strengthens democracy by empowering youth
Program partners college students with high schools to challenge the younger students to find more...
Reinventing the meeting

NEWSLETTER

Mother Nature. Delivered
Advertisement
Advertisement

Footer menu

  • Quick Links
    • Joy of Less
    • About Us
    • Advisory Board
    • Editors' Blog
    • Press
    • Privacy
    • Sitemap
    • Terms of Service
  • MNN Tools
    • Advice
    • Blogs
    • Day in History
    • Eco-glossary
    • Infographics
    • Lists
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Connect
    • The Nest
    • Contact Us
    • Mixed Greens
    • Newsletters
    • RSS
    • Social
    • TreeHugger
    • Mobile
  • Channels
    • Earth Matters
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Green Tech
    • Eco-Biz & Money
    • Your Home
    • Family
    • State Reports
  • Follow MNN
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Tumblr
    • Google+
    • StumbleUpon

Copyright © 2013 MNN Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Website by GLICK INTERACTIVE | Powered by CIRRACORE

SPONSORS