Scottish council to considering freeze-drying dead bodies

by mudricky | February 25, 2009 at 12:51 pm

454 views | 30 Recommendations | 15 comments

A council in Scotland is to consider freeze drying dead bodies to help the environment and cut emissions from cremations.

The bodies would be frozen to -18C then submerging it in liquid nitrogen. The body would then become so brittle it would disintegrate into dust when a vibration was passed through it.

Stuart Pryde, East Lothian Council's principal amenities officer, told community councillors that there was a major problem regarding space in graveyardsand that space could run our within decades.

"There is a new system being developed where they basically freeze-dry you, hit you with a hammer and you break into dust, so there are no gas emissions – nothing.

"The end process is the same, in as much as there is a casket which can be buried or scattered or whatever, but it does not have the need for -emitting furnaces. It is a very, very clean way of getting the same result."

The process, known as promession, is considered more environmentally friendly than cremation, largely because it avoids the mercury pollution created by burning fillings in teeth and other metal objects in the body, such as replacement joints or surgical implants.

Exposure to mercury is linked to damage to the brain, nervous system and fertility, and crematoria are believed to be one of the main sources of mercury pollution in the UK.

Extra reading - Promession on Wiki

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TDH

at 12:56 on February 25th, 2009

This would drastically cut down on the zombie factor. Seems like a logical step.

mudricky

at 12:57 on February 25th, 2009

zombie factor - ha ha yea, I should add that in.

mudricky

at 12:59 on February 25th, 2009

On a Scottish Newspaper website someone wrote this:

I have already advised my wife I want to be put through a mincer and recycled and fed to dogs in the local pound. it is in my will. have already bought the mincer, at 120kgs an hour it would take about 40 minutes, bought the collagen casings (28mm size) for the sausages and the sausage stuffer for the purpose.

I am sick of greenies who only think about trees when the best form of recycling is oneself.

If we all did this we could end starvation.

Amy Judd

at 13:05 on February 25th, 2009

Wow, kind of sick.

Fripouille

at 15:59 on February 26th, 2009

Maybe he'd just seen "Soylent Green".......

Jordan Yerman

at 13:04 on February 25th, 2009

It'd be called the "Han Solo clause" in one's will... though, if the effect is the same as cremation but with fewer pollutants, then I say, "go for it".

tikun

at 13:05 on February 25th, 2009

Nothing wrong with worm food?

martinm

at 15:10 on February 25th, 2009

Graveyard near Loch Katrine

martinm has contributed a photo to this story.

Paschen

at 16:53 on February 25th, 2009

Hum, Composting is better and harvesting the Methane Gas to heat the House and the rest well for the vegetables. The fillings and implants will have to be removed first and recycled of course. Now that would be progress or do as our ancestors did. Recycle it all.

kevinmunro

at 17:05 on February 25th, 2009

This is Fodderty Cemetry in the Scottish Highlands, with the Cat's Back hill in the background. Whether promession is a good idea or not we'd still need to have wonderful places like this as a focal point for the living to come and remember their departed loved ones.

kevinmunro has contributed a photo to this story.

Fripouille

at 19:11 on February 25th, 2009

I'm not buying this.

If the only choice the good lord has to offer me is between being burnt to a crisp or being smashed to smithereens with a hammer, I'd rather just stay alive if you don't mind.

Thanks for the offer though.

Chris_H (not verified)

at 01:48 on February 26th, 2009

Wouldn't the resulting dust thaw out again, leaving you with a kind of soup? Good idea if it works, though :)

Personally, I want to be buried.

photobymarkdavey

at 02:21 on February 26th, 2009

This was taken at St Mary's Loch Kirkyard about 3/4 mile off the road between Selkirk and Moffatt on a November day midweek. I used a Nikon D100 + fill flash. More of my work is at: http://www.photobymarkdavey.com

photobymarkdavey has contributed a photo to this story.