Cremation is becoming the popular choice in America and Europe, and for good reason. Those who choose cremation are given a wealth of options for their memorial service for a price far lower than traditional burial options. Family members, too, are given the chance to remember their loved ones in very special ways unique to the deceased. There’s another interesting fact about cremation that isn’t often discussed which may interest those green-minded individuals. Some crematoriums are able to partner with recycling firms to repurpose any metal left behind after cremation. This metal can then be used to build houses, airplanes, and more.
A piece in the Irish Times covers this story and claims that crematoriums in Northern Ireland have been participating in such a program for over four years. In that time, over two metric tons of various metals have been collected and shipped to a factory in the Netherlands. The value of all this metal amounts to nearly $45,000, and all proceeds have been donated to Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross and other charities. OrthoMetals, the Dutch company which runs the program, also accepts metal from crematoriums elsewhere in Europe and claims that though some metal is unrecoverable, the rest can be repurposed and given another life.
The issue of recycling these metals isn’t nearly as gruesome as you may think. According to OrthoMetals, a vast majority of what they take are pieces of coffins. In fact, 73 percent of the metal comes form nails, screws, hinges and the like from coffins which enter the furnace. Metal from implants, including hip replacements, make up an additional 27 percent of the recycled material. The smallest percentage — about 0.1 percent — is made up of precious metals, which include dental fillings and jewelry. Most of the precious metal found in jewelry burns up during the cremation process, making it impossible to retrieve. The metal that does survive the high temperatures is later recovered with a magnet and collected in special bins. The Irish crematoriums are visited once a year by OrthoMetals to pick up the collected metal.
According to the Irish Times piece, there’s not a lot of metal to recover following a cremation, but these small amounts add up and mean welcome donations to charity. The families are always given the option to hold on to any jewelry which survives the cremation, of course, but according to the crematorium managers interviewed by the Irish Times, no family members have asked for these items. The managers also say recycling this metal makes sense because it won’t break down later. Recycling this material gives it another life and is a green option when conducting a cremation.
This is but another example of the customization made available to those who choose cremation. This story also highlights the importance of speaking directly with a cremation provider to understand all options and benefits available to you. If you have any questions about cremation or the process involved, call the compassionate and trusted experts at Smart Cremation. They’ll answer your questions and help you plan the best way to honor your loved ones. Smart Cremation also helps you preplan your own cremation, the best choice for those looking to lessen the burden placed on their families after their passing by attending to all the details now. Call Smart Cremation today: (503) 402-2578!
