A BIZARRE new type of “boil in a bag” funerals that dissolves dead bodies has been introduced to the UK.
The controversial alternative to cremation and burial can now be carried out in Scotland for the first time.
The process – known as hydrolysis – sees the body wrapped in a silk or woollen shroud before being placed in a pressurised chamber with hot water heated to 150C and chemicals.
This so-called “water cremation” speeds up decomposition.
Family can choose to keep the remains in an urn.
The process is already available in some countries, including Canada, Ireland and the US.
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Advocates for the technique claim that it is better for the environment.
But skeptics believe it’s a disrespectful way to treat the dead.
Kindly Earth, which will manufacture hydrolosis equipment in the UK, described it as a “historic moment”.
“For the first time in more than a century, families will have an additional funeral choice alongside burial and cremation,” General Manager Helen Chandler said.
“It’s about giving families more choice. Each family has different values and priorities.
“Some people, particularly those planning ahead for their own funeral, are looking for options that feel more aligned to their own preferences Hydrolysis provides that additional choice.”
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Sites wishing to offer water cremations will need planning permission and approval from their local water company.
The first services in Scotland are expected to take place this summer once all necessary consents are in place.
There is currently no specific regulation of new funerary methods for the England and Wales.
Scotland’s public health minister Jenni Minto said: “The choices people make about their remains prior to death are deeply personal, shaped by individual values, beliefs and the wishes of their families.
“Hydrolysis offers a new, environmentally friendly alternative to burial or cremation, responding to significant public support for greater choice, and it will be the first new option available for over 120 years.
“The process will be subject to the same assurances and regulatory requirements as existing methods, giving bereaved families confidence that their loved ones are treated with care, dignity and respect.”
Dr Lian Lundy, a wastewater specialist at Middlesex University previously said: “Some people view it as basically mixing up my loved one with poo in the sewer and they don’t like that.
“But there’s a lot that goes into the sewer that we don’t really think about – waste from mortuaries and hospitals and all sorts of things that we don’t know about – so from that perspective, it’s not really any different.”