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Ashes to Ashes, Flush to Flush: Belgium Considering Dissolving Rather than Burning Bodies

Belgium will soon be giving people a funeral more befitting deceased goldfish than people. Undertakers are planning to dissolve dead bodies in caustic solutions and then flush them into the sewers.


In addition to space limitations, the government notes that 573lbs of carbon dioxide are released by each cremated corpse. The solution, they insists is to dissolve rather than to burn the bodies.

Under the process, known as resomation, bodies are treated in a steel chamber with potassium hydroxide at high pressure and a temperature of 180c (350f).

This beats Stockholm’s idea of warming homes with burning bunnies.

Sources: Daily Mail

24 thoughts on “Ashes to Ashes, Flush to Flush: Belgium Considering Dissolving Rather than Burning Bodies”

  1. What to do with corpses is as close to a religious view as it gets. I fail to see what makes one method “acceptable” and another method “outrageous”.
    If this new method is not a health risk to anyone, then the only issue I see with it is the feelings of the relatives. Carbon impact would probably be the last thing on their mind at such a time.

  2. Buddha Is Laughing

    It’s true irony that death is a growth industry.

    Or as my dad said when he heard about Marvin Gaye being shot by his father, “Let that be a lesson to you.”

    ================================================================

    lol … and after that chuckle, it’s time for bed!

  3. It’s true irony that death is a growth industry.

    Or as my dad said when he heard about Marvin Gaye being shot by his father, “Let that be a lesson to you.”

  5. Jaysus H. C., Ed G. liquefaction via alkalization!

    Then I guess your bereaved could pay the Alkaline Trio to sang songs at your ‘alkali vat sloshin’ from their album ‘From Here to Infirmary’

    Some suggested tunes from the CD:

    “You’re Dead” or “I’m Dying Tomorrow”

    http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1694047/a/From+Here+To+Infirmary.htm

    Seriously, disposing of human remains is a growing problem. Good luck with your venture.

  6. It’s really not that long ago that cremation was seen as something disgusting that was used for punishment and that only the mentally disturbed would consider for themselves or their loved ones. It was 1884 that Dr. William Price was prosecuted for attempting to cremate his dead son Jesus Christ Price.

    If people find this a better way of disposing of remains, then it will be accepted, regardless of what people think of it now.

  7. Ed Gazvoda: I was just about to suggest that bodies be recycled, but I see the idea is taken.

    I know and have heard of lots of people who have had their ashes spread around their favorite tree, or in one casse put in the compost heap.

    Actually when I think about it dead animals aren’t recycled much, are they? Probablly causes more harm than good. Of course parts are all used for different things: glue, fertilzer, even protein rich food for other animals.

    “Soylent Green is chickens!!!!!”

  8. The best alternative is from a new company, CycledLife, http://www.CycledLife.com. They offer a CycledBurial(TM), which is a burial that returns the body to the earth in a manner that will not harm family or friends. One’s remains are cleansed, using water and alkali, of all harmful pathogens. The body is returned to the earth. As the sterile remains contain no DNA, the body can be placed directly on the ground or just below the surface. No cemetery is required. Though, the remains may be buried in a cemetery. This process is vastly different from a cremation. Whereas cremation harms the living, a CycledBurial allows one to participate in the cycle of life.

    Placing unsterile bodies in the ground is not a thoughtful practice, nor sustainable. It is risky business.

  9. Wayne in Minnesota,

    Ah yes … but … the man looks good in a kilt!

  10. Blouise: I’m not much into vampire movies, so I’ll have to defer to you as the source authority for questions and answers on this kind of stuff.

    But ZOMBIE movies, that’s another matter. This sounds like a Simon Pegg solution.

  12. Wayne in Minnesota

    Why not? We’ve been plantin’ ‘em for years, and ain’t one done growed back yet! (Besides, think of all of the great golf courses that we could have if we get rid of all the cemeteries!)

    =================================================================

    I don’t know about that … the recent rise in “vampire” popularity is something I blame on the Mormons and all that baptizing of the dead they’ve been doing.

    On the other hand, more golf courses would be nice …

  13. give me a good ol fashion wooden crate thank you…then i can at least make flowers…

  14. Why not? We’ve been plantin’ ’em for years, and ain’t one done growed back yet! (Besides, think of all of the great golf courses that we could have if we get rid of all the cemeteries!)

  15. @Nal: don’t forget the carbon dioxide from the fuel. Corpses are roughly 50% water, they don’t burn very well on their own.

    Old fashioned wooden pyres were surprisingly big, and modern crematories use quite a bit of natural gas.

  16. Ah, yes — a “niche application.” I, too, am waiting to hear about their creative solution for disposal of the bones.

  17. 573 lbs of carbon dioxide? From a 180 lb corpse? Doesn’t that violate some law of physics?

  18. So people can drink them once they’ve gone through the waste treatment plant. Hurray!

  20. That’s just not right. I’m all for lowering the carbon footprint of humanity, but this isn’t the way to do it.

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