A burning question?

Question

we really need to do something about end of life disposal of bodies .burrial is not allways a sound idea ,cremation pollutes the air with mercury and other things uses alot of natural gas .we could compost and use the methane for fuel and the leftovers for fertilizer.what do you think

Answer 1

Methane is supposedl the number one cause of "global warming" How about we take human remains and dump them in the ocean to be shark food?

Answer 2

I think this is a personal issue, there are spiritual attachments, but overall, everyone has their own view. I don't think we need laws or anything to govern this aspect. Really, be careful what you wish for, or someone might be regulating this next. I definitely think donating organs is a great idea, and I have nothing against cremation. But not fertilizer in the ground, please, diseases could spread, people would just bury people anywhere. There could be all sorts of problems. But good concept, really, if we keep challenging everything we will continually create new and better methods for everything.

Answer 3

Here, here. I am really into re-cycling and have a compost heap, and everything I can do to help the environment I try to do. However before we compost the left-overs, why don't we re-cycle in a better way first? I'm talking about donating organs.

Here they have a bumper sticker that says "Don't take your organs to Heaven. Heaven knows we need them here!" The waiting lists are far too long for those waiting on them, some times fatally so, so imagine how much shorter they would be if everyone donated? And it would reduce the risks too. Because there would be a greater chance of a perfect match if there was a huge range of donors.

So you'd re-cycle twice.

Answer 4

Cemeteries have not only sentimental but also historical and cultural values. If you have ever been to a large churchyard and read some of the inscriptions on some of the tombstones, you'll have an idea of what I am talking about. Human beings occupy a special place on this planet, even though we frequently abuse this privilege. We should do ourselves the honour of preserving our mortal remains for as long as would be feasible without encroaching on the rights of other occupants of the planet. And this is entirely possible without resort to the rather demeaning recycling methods you seem to be proposing. Burial grounds may be a problem for countries that allow their populations to grow out of control (China, India etc.), but I see no reason why those in small, tidy countries should deny themselves this important after-life service. Human life is sacred and even in death to me certainly worth preserving. I wouldn't buy your recycling idea for even one second!

Answer 5

Sure we have to develop new alternatives to dispose of bodies because of lack of space, pollution and others. For example, people can donate organs in the field of medicine so that when they die, sick people may benefit from them.

But we also have to consider the 'traditions' of various religious groups. It is difficult to change the beliefs of people. Moreover, i think it's quite 'disgusting' to try to make compost out of human bodies! it's hard to imagine such a 'special' fertilizer in your garden!

Furthermore, i think that human waste diposals like plastic and electronic goods need to be considered in the first place as our bodies are 'biodegradable' while every second consumption keeps on increasing since it takes rather a lot of time to get rid of such wastes

Answer 6

There's always the Towers of Silence...but our US vultures are nearly extinct

Answer 7

Hey let's take it to another level and make edible "soilent green" out of our dead.  Yum.

Perhaps we could turn Ohio corn fields into cemeteries.  I can see the ads now...."Grown in fields 100% fertilized by dead people".

Answer 8

The ultimate in recycling - recycle yourself!

I don't think my nearest and dearest will be too keen on stirring my remains into their compost bin, and anyway fat doesn't compost well - I'm 30% fat! You are probably 35%, so don't get smug...

Answer 9

I always say I want to be taken out back and burned with the trash (metaphorically speaking). I am uncertain of any nutrient value a body has after death and decomposition for the environment. Like in the days of the plague, where does the disease go?. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust at least our bodies should not rust!

Burial ceremonies are a form of trained belief and right. But as with everything else, it's become a commercial "retail" event.

When our spirits leave it's vessel we are gone, not of this place. I believe we should let nature take it's course. Another thought is to have our bodies fed to hungry animals if you have to. We are all part of the food chain. Then our waste could be used to fertilize  nature and in turn, our essence of life is on going

Answer 10

Do you think our bodies have murcury in them?We should leave corpses to be eaten by worms that keep organic substances in the soil to fertilize plants.I agree that there is too many cemetaries on earth and we must dispose boddies to make way for future people.

Answer 11

THere is a company somewhere in Europe that will freezedry your body, use ultrasound to pulverize it inot dust, and will then bury what is left in a biodegradable cornstarch coffin. This is probably the most eco-friendly way to go, but it is sort of expensive-it think it is like $10000

Answer 12

That's why some people eat organic so their body decompose into a sea of flowers.

Answer 13

burial and/or cremation have their roots in.... disease control.

when the bodies were left to rot, then there was a higher chance of spreading diseases such as cholera.

Cremation is probably more environmentally sound than burial... because with cremation you don't have to embalm. (which is replacing the blood with a preservative fluid.... Formaldehyde, which is essentially toxic waste made on purpose.)

Its not SAFE to compost bodies.  Cremation wins.

Answer 14

Hey, try natural burial.  There are several cemetaries in the US and Canada that will bury you without embalming fluid in a biodegradable coffin.  They are in natural settings and you can mark your loved one's resting place with a normal headstone or a tree/bush.  There's even a wikipedia article on it.

http://naturalburial.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_bur...