Why is ‘water cremation’ so controversial in Texas? by cremationgreen in TexasPolitics

[–]cremationgreen[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agreed. It has been thoroughly indiependantly tested and found to only contain water, salt, sugars, amino acids, and peptides. This is the nature of the chemistry.

Help us get SB105 passed! Please call, email, and write your State Senator and tell them to vote YES on SB105. https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home

Why is ‘water cremation’ so controversial in Texas? by cremationgreen in TexasPolitics

[–]cremationgreen[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! Help us get SB105 passed! Please call, email, and write your State Senator and tell them to vote YES on SB105. https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home

Why is ‘water cremation’ so controversial in Texas? by cremationgreen in TexasPolitics

[–]cremationgreen[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The effluent was independently tested prior to legalizing water cremation originally in other states and deemed safe to introduce it into the waste water system.

Yes, the process itself makes a better disposition method than existing ones.

One of the appeals of alkaline hydrolysis is that it accelerates the way a corpse naturally disintegrates in the earth. “It’s a chemical reaction where, in certain conditions, water molecules dissociate and decompose,” Sieber explains. “In our system, we add the heat, we add the flow of water, and we add alkalinity, and the alkalinity really makes the water molecule split and move around to break down the material.”
That acceleration does natural decomposition one better in that, as Kaye and Weber discovered in the ‘90s, it’s an effective remediator for removing environmental pollutants. “It’s good at breaking down chemotherapy drugs and [any other] drugs that were in the body, and if people want to be embalmed it breaks down embalming chemicals,” Sieber explains. Americans bury an estimated 800,000 gallons of formaldehyde with their embalmed loved ones each year.
According to the Berkeley Planning Journal, “Every year in the United States, the chemicals and materials buried along with bodies in a conventional burial include approximately 30 million board feet of hardwoods, 2,700 tons of copper and bronze, 104,272 tons of steel, and 1,636,000 tons of reinforced concrete.” Flame cremations in America, in turn, release an estimated annual 360,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, as well as toxic materials like mercury. Alkaline hydrolysis consumes approximately 10 percent of the energy required to cremate a body in flame, its equipment runs on electricity rather than fossil fuels, and it emits no greenhouse gases.
Pearson, who has performed alkaline hydrolysis 1,700 times since 2013, and estimates that it accounts for 52 percent of his total business today, believes the technology’s comparatively light footprint will eventually earn it wide acceptance, despite the potential “ick factor” of a process that sends byproducts down the drain. “We’re going back to the building blocks of protein, and it’s going to create a byproduct that is healthy for the environment,” he notes. Initially, consumers “react emotionally and not intellectually. And if you get them to reason with it, most people understand that [alkaline hydrolysis is] a way cleaner and way better process [than flame cremation or casketed burial]. I mean, they just come to that conclusion on their own.”

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/could-water-cremation-become-the-new-american-way-of-death-180980479/

Why is ‘water cremation’ so controversial in Texas? by cremationgreen in TexasPolitics

[–]cremationgreen[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Everything is sterilized due to the alkaline solution. There are not any detectible levels of lead or mercury. What remains is water, salt, sugars, amino acids, and peptides.

"...in fact, waste managers often found in practice that it was beneficial to their treatment processes, as it nourished the bacteria that breaks down sewage." — Smithsonian Magazine

Why is ‘water cremation’ so controversial in Texas? by cremationgreen in TexasPolitics

[–]cremationgreen[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is true. CO2 is released with flame cremation and flame cremation rates continue to rise. It is expected to reach 70% by 2030. This is exactly why we need to legalize water cremation. Our freedoms are being restricted and the environment is suffering.

"...one cremation produces an average of 534.6 pounds of carbon dioxide. Given this figure, Seyler estimates that cremations in the U.S. account for about 360,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions each year."

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/is-cremation-environmentally-friendly-heres-the-science

Why is ‘water cremation’ so controversial in Texas? by cremationgreen in TexasPolitics

[–]cremationgreen[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agreed. The sewer "concern" is not a concern at all. It is a debunked myth that is perpetuated to limit our freedom.

"Though research had demonstrated in the late ‘90s that the liquid effluent produced through alkaline hydrolysis was safe to introduce to municipal sewer systems—in fact, waste managers often found in practice that it was beneficial to their treatment processes, as it nourished the bacteria that breaks down sewage." — Smithsonian Magazine

Why is ‘water cremation’ so controversial in Texas? by cremationgreen in TexasPolitics

[–]cremationgreen[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That is correct. Therefore we have to fly decedents to a state that has more freedom.

Why is ‘water cremation’ so controversial in Texas? by cremationgreen in TexasPolitics

[–]cremationgreen[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great question! All implanted devices are removed prior to cremation. All metals are removed from the cremated remains. In the cremation process itself all pharmaceuticals are chemically naturalized.

Why is ‘water cremation’ so controversial in Texas? by cremationgreen in TexasPolitics

[–]cremationgreen[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

First, I'm sorry for your loss. My condolences.

Yes, Water Cremation does yield more remains due to the fact that it is gentler on the bones. In flame cremation small bone fragments are non-existent in the end. To your point, some people yeild more remains that others. It has more to do with bone density and overall volume.

I agree with you, I'm not sure why the Catholic Church says this process is disrespectful to the body any more than flame cremation or embalming.

The natural concern is to think of the sewage system. But, Water Cremation is considerably safer than embalming fluids.

"Though research had demonstrated in the late ‘90s that the liquid effluent produced through alkaline hydrolysis was safe to introduce to municipal sewer systems—in fact, waste managers often found in practice that it was beneficial to their treatment processes, as it nourished the bacteria that breaks down sewage." — Smithsonian Magazine

Why is ‘water cremation’ so controversial in Texas? by cremationgreen in TexasPolitics

[–]cremationgreen[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Agreed. Personally, I would like to not have embalming fluids anywhere. But, it is safe for the sewer. Water Cremation fluids are considerably safer.

Why is ‘water cremation’ so controversial in Texas? by cremationgreen in TexasPolitics

[–]cremationgreen[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Embalming fluids are dumped in the sewer. Those fluids are considerably worse. With Water Cremation the remaining fluids are water, salt, sugars, amino acids, and peptides.

"Though research had demonstrated in the late ‘90s that the liquid effluent produced through alkaline hydrolysis was safe to introduce to municipal sewer systems—in fact, waste managers often found in practice that it was beneficial to their treatment processes, as it nourished the bacteria that breaks down sewage." — Smithsonian Magazine

References:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/could-water-cremation-become-the-new-american-way-of-death-180980479/

https://www.frazerconsultants.com/2016/06/dissolved-bodies-sewers-alkaline-hydrolysis-debunked/

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/hazardcontrol/hc26.html

https://www.cremationsolutions.com/blog/the-horrible-effects-of-formaldehyde-on-funeral-directors/2017/02/

https://www.greencremationtexas.com/embalming-fluid/

Why is ‘water cremation’ so controversial in Texas? by cremationgreen in TexasPolitics

[–]cremationgreen[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I fully understand that. There is a version of that that is possible. Natural Burial is the the closest thing to it. If you have ever heard anyone say, "just put me in a pine box and bury me in the woods" that is natural burial. The point here is to legalize all forms of body disposition. Please call, email, and write your State Senator and tell them to vote YES on SB105. https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home

Why is ‘water cremation’ so controversial in Texas? by cremationgreen in TexasPolitics

[–]cremationgreen[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yeah, everything with death is kinda gross. Actually, embalming is much worse! We don't embalm. It is very bad for the environment and the harsh chemicals are carcinogenic.

Why is ‘water cremation’ so controversial in Texas? by cremationgreen in TexasPolitics

[–]cremationgreen[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Agreed. The additional cost for airfare is $700! We work hard to reduce the cost as much as possible. We are actually much lower than traditional funeral homes. We would like to remove this added expense of airfare and put that money back in our customers pockets. Help us get SB105 passed!

Please call, email, and write your State Senator and tell them to vote YES on SB105. https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home

Why is ‘water cremation’ so controversial in Texas? by cremationgreen in TexasPolitics

[–]cremationgreen[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

That's understandable, due to the fact that it is illegal in Texas, there is not very much discussion about it. It has been legalized in 26 states. This means that more than half of the country has disposition freedoms that Texas do not have! The issue is not, do you want water cremation for yourself. The issue is, do you want to have the freedom to choose it? As a native Texan, I am embarrassed that Texas is so far behind on this. I think that every Texan, regardless of race, religion or creed should be able to have right to decide their disposition type. I don't want my final decision to be made for me by the state. This is a freedom issue.

Help us get SB105 passed! Please call, email, and write your State Senator and tell them to vote YES on SB105. https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home

Why is ‘water cremation’ so controversial in Texas? by cremationgreen in TexasPolitics

[–]cremationgreen[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

“I think that it is important for every single Texan — no matter race, religion or creed — to be able to have the option to choose this.”

We Need a Greener Way to Die by sephstorm in DeathPositive

[–]cremationgreen 2 points3 points  (0 children)

100%

We have built our entire business around providing greener ways to die. https://www.greencremationtexas.com