Insane ‘boil in a bag’ funerals that effectively flush bodies down the drain could be approved in a country with a population of 68 million.
The bizarre burial method works by dissolving the body before it is flushed down the drain.
It is being referred to as a ‘water cremation’, with supporters claiming that the procedure is better for the environment than more traditional alternatives.
This is due to the fact that flame-based cremation releases roughly 535 lbs of carbon dioxide into the air and traditional burials can pollute the soil.
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However, not everyone is keen on the idea with some saying that the practice is actually disrespectful.
How does a water cremation work?
So, how does the method actually work? First, the body is placed inside a pressure vessel with corrosive liquid.
This is then heated to a whopping 160 degrees celsius (320 degrees fahrenheit) in order to instigate a rapid decomposition of the body, essentially liquidizing the body.
The liquid that is left, which is known as ‘effluent’ and resembles a tea-like color, can be disposed of with other wastewater including down the drain.
The bones are then given back to loved ones as grounded ashes which can be scattered or kept.
Metal joints or hips will remain intact during the process.
According to a report by the Daily Mail, one funeral home located in Minnesota paid $750,000 to have a chamber installed.
And while some people liken the process to people being baptised, not everyone is thrilled about the idea.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Dr Lian Lundy, who is a wastewater specialist at Middlesex University in England said: “Some people view it as basically mixing up my loved one with poo in the sewer and they don’t like that.
“But there’s a lot that goes into the sewer that we don’t really think about – waste from mortuaries and hospitals and all sorts of things that we don’t know about – so from that perspective, it’s not really any different.”
Where is the method available?
While there has been some pushback from countries around the legalities of water cremation, the strange method is already available to use in nearly 30 states across the US.
It is also available in countries including South Africa, Canada, and Ireland, which became the first country in Europe to offer the procedure.
The costs of a water cremation are expected to be similar to the more traditional flame cremation, which tends to cost anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000.
It's thought that the method could soon be legal to use in the UK, making it available to a population of 68 million people.