Dissolving Corpses

The EU is considering allowing resomation, which is the process of dissolving corpses by placing it in a chamber at 180 degrees with potassium hydroxide and high pressure. If Belgium approves the process, EU law would allow Britain to use it as well. Resomation is cheaper and better for the environment than running highly polluting crematoriums or wasting valuable land for cemeteries. Plus, the liquid could then be flushed into the sewage system and recycled at water processing plants.

Resomation has recently been used to destroy cattle found to have BSE. Currently, Maine, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, and Oregon have legislation that allows resomation.

See Allan Hall, Undertakers Consider Your Solution, The Age, July 10, 2010.