Climate change is no joke. As our planet continues to suffer many people are beginning to as the question: “What can I do?” One of the potential solutions might be cremation services. A lot of people never even think about burials’ environmental impact, but a few small changes to funerals and services can go a long way. If you are looking for a green way to celebrate the life of a loved one or prepare for your own passing in an environmentally friendly way, cremation services in East York, PA might be the answer.
Cremations has a lot of positives over traditional burials. One of the main ones is environmental impact. Traditional, full-service burials have considerable negative impact on the environment. One big example is loss of habitat. The Centre for National Burial recently conducted a survey that found that 10 acres of cemetery holds almost 1000 tons of casket steal, 20,000 tons of vault concrete and enough wood for 40 full-sized homes. That extra material takes up space that could otherwise be used for homes, plants, or animals.
On the whole, thanks to modern advances, cremation is a greener choice. However, there are some downsides to cremation in terms of the environment. The average crematorium can go through a lot of natural gas, releasing dangerous chemicals and gases into the atmosphere.
To fully dehydrate a human body to bone and ash, a crematorium has to be fully heated to at least 1400 degrees Fahrenheit and maintain the heat for a minimum of 45 minutes. This process can also be bad for the environment as it gives off tons of carbon dioxide and burns a lot of fossil fuel. But, thanks to new technology and more fuel-efficient crematorium centers, cremation services don’t have as many negative impacts on the environment.
There are ways you can make choices to make cremation even greener, like:
- Choose the best cremation casket - Cremation providers generally require bodies to be in a rigid, consumable, and non-leaking casket for the cremation. However, some of these caskets can send up nasty noxious gases and fumes when burned. You can choose a non-toxic and renewable casket like wicker or cardboard.
- Get a biodegradable urn – You can bury the cremains after the cremation, but traditional urns and ashes still do take up space and slow down the decay process. Both of these factors can have a negative impact on the earth. Choose a biodegradable urn instead to better protect the local ground.
- Recycle materials before the cremation - Remove and recycle medical devices and parts, like pacemakers, before beginning the cremation process. Not only is burning these materials wasteful, but it can also send up harmful gases and create non-biodegradable ash.
If you have more questions about East York, PA cremation services and the environment, Beck Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Inc. is here to help. We have years of experience and can offer any more information you need. Pay us a visit at 175 N Main St Spring Grove, PA 17362, or give us a call at (717) 225-1677.
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