Scottish Government Seeks Views On Water Cremations

25th August 2023

The public is being asked for views on alkaline hydrolysis (water cremations), burials, funeral director licensing and funeral sector inspections in four separate public consultations.

The regulations proposed in the consultations aim to protect the dignity of the deceased and increase confidence in the funeral sector by ensuring minimum standards of good care and services are maintained.

Responses to the consultation on the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Bill showed there was public support for the introduction of new, environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional burial or cremation in Scotland. Alkaline hydrolysis is already in use in other countries, such as Ireland, Canada and USA. This consultation sets out the safeguards which would be put in place to ensure alkaline hydrolysis would be subject to the same high standards as burial and cremation.

Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said:

"Bereavement can be emotionally overwhelming and being able to engage with the practical issues and funeral arrangements can be very difficult.

"However, it is something everyone is likely to experience at some stage in their life, whether it's the death of a family member, a loved one, or a friend.

"Having confidence in the care and dignity given to our loved ones, along with the compassionate and professional treatment of those bereaved, can go some way to alleviating that distress. The rare instances where this does not happen satisfactorily can have long-standing impacts on people.

"This is why we need to ensure we get the right policy and legal frameworks in place and I urge anyone with views on the issues in these consultations to take the time to respond."

National Association of Funeral Directors Scotland President Mark Shaw said:

"The National Association of Funeral Directors is delighted to welcome and support the public consultations into key areas that will help shape the funeral sector in a new, regulated landscape.

"These new regulations designed to support the oversight of standards in the funeral sector will provide reassurance and security to bereaved people and funeral directors, while the proposed introduction of alkaline hydrolysis, or water cremation, is a step froward in offering future alternatives to burial and cremation.

"These are incredibly important next steps to support bereaved people, and we urge everyone to have their say."

National Society of Allied Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) Scotland President James Morris said:

"SAIF Scotland are encouraged to see the process of regulation reach the public consultation stage.

"Regulation of the Scottish funeral sector will maintain and ensure the high standards of funeral service, care of the deceased and delivery to the tens of thousands of families in need of a funeral director each year.

"SAIF Scotland looks forward to continuing to work with the Scottish Government on what has been an open and consultative process and has thoughtfully addressed concerns shared by both the Government and the funeral sector."

Burial and cremation consultation collection

Alkaline hydrolysis is a method of disposal of human remains using hot water with the addition of potassium hydroxide, or sodium hydroxide, or a mix of both.

The consultations close on 17 November 2023.

The History of Alkaline Hydrolysis

Why Alkaline Hydrolysis is Green
Two alkalis are effectively used in alkaline hydrolysis. As an analogy, just as you can use sodium chloride (salt) in a water softener, you can also use potassium chloride (potassium salt) in a water softener.
• The alkali known as NaOH (sodium hydroxide, or caustic soda) is derived by electrolysis of salt water into sodium hydroxide. The planet has abundant quantities of sodium chloride (salt) to produce this alkali. NaOH is commonly used in making hard soap and other products, many of which are used for personal hygiene. After the process of hydrolysis, sodium chloride reforms as one of the end products.
• The alkali known as KOH (potassium hydroxide, caustic potash, or potash lye) is derived by electrolysis of potassium salt water into potassium hydroxide. The planet has abundant quantities of potassium chloride to produce this alkali. KOH is commonly used in the making of soft soap among other products, many of which are used for personal hygiene. Potassium (K) is an essential nutrient for plant growth; you see it on every bag of fertilizer. After the process of hydrolysis, potassium remains as one of the end products.
Alkaline hydrolysis of a body can be carried out with either of the two alkalis, but the best combination of effectiveness is realized with a mix of the two hydroxides. This has been learned over many years of working with these alkalis individually and in combination. Most of the alkaline hydrolysis systems in use today for animal disposition are using a mix of the two alkalis.
The effluent from the process is called hydrolysate. This material is a beneficial, highly nutritious, true solution that is an excellent form of fertilizer for crops or trees. It is also an excellent nutrient source for anaerobic or aerobic sewage treatment plants, often providing micronutrients that improve the function of the wastewater
treatment.
Any phosphorous (P) that comes from the process of alkaline hydrolysis is in the form of bone remnants or bone particulates. Phosphorous is also an essential nutrient for plants, and the form of phosphorus resulting from this process is not in the form that causes the issues of run-off for lakes, streams, and rivers. Phosphorous in the form of calcium phosphate requires soil microbes to slowly release this bound form of the nutrient for use by plants.
After passing through the sewage treatment process, or through the biological process of fertilization, the end products of alkaline hydrolysis are not harmful to the environment in any way.
Unlike cremation, alkaline hydrolysis does not produce, liberate, or form harmful end products from metals found in the body such as implants, pacemakers, bone screws, dentures, jewelry, and particularly the silver/mercury amalgam so often used as fillings in teeth.
As numerous studies show, there is no air pollution or other harmful emission from alkaline hydrolysis.