COOPERATIVE MEMORIAL SOCIETY
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More about Cremation and its Impact on the Environment

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Cremation has become a more popular alternative to burial.  However, cremation is not without an impact on the environment and as a result 'Green Burials' are now looked into as a further alternative.

Crematorium furnaces combust at very high temperatures, 1590-1797 degrees Fahrenheit  or  870 - 980 degrees Celsius,  and it takes at least an hour to incinerate the body. The burners can range in power from 150 kW to 800 kW.  Most furnaces are run by natural gas.  The air supply is controlled. A 68 kg body which contains 65% water will require 100 MJ of thermal energy before any combustion will take place. This is equivalent to 3 cubic metres of natural gas or 3 litres of fuel oil.   Additional energy is necessary to preheat the furnace.  The furnace is lined with refractory ceramic bricks and to produce them requires lots of energy and materials.

Calcified compounds within cremains can contain metals such as lead, boron, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, tin, lithium, magnesium, manganese, nicket and strontium.  Metals such as aresenic and selenium, though present in a live human body, are volatile and decompose quickly upon burning.  Levels of toxic metals in cremains are not regulated although all non-combustible materials must be removed from the corpse.  Pacemakers must be removed as they explode and will damage the furnace.  Dental metal fragments must be removed.  The body is burned within the coffin or a cardboard box.  Any bone fragments left after they cool are ground in a separate process and added to the ash. Fumes produced are computer controlled.  The flue gases are vented to the atmosphere through a refractory-lined flue.  The gases are at a very high temperature and are cooled.  However, gaseous emissions are by far the greatest source of cremation pollution.  

In addition to harmless compounds such as water vapor, emissions include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, hydrogen chloride gas, hydrogen fluoride, mercury vapour . Organic compounds such as benzenes, furans, acetone are also emitted and these react with the hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride under combustion conditions to form polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) both of which are carcinogens. A study by the Cremation Association of North America has found that filtering crematorium fumes has little effect on the toxins released.  However, when compared to yearly toxin release world wide, crematoriums contribute only a very small fraction of harmful compounds or greenhouse gases.   

Excerpted from faculty.virginia.edu/metals/cases/huffman1.html

Cremation PLANS for CCMS members

Each service provider for CCMS provides plans for cremation that range from a simple cremation (no service), to cremation with funeral service or viewing with rental casket , cremation and funeral service.  Member' rates start at $975 from McInnis & Holloway and vary by service provider and plan selected. Please contact our service providers directly for more details. 

More about cremation

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Join and SAVE

Cooperative Memorial Society
Suite 204A, 223-12 Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2R 0G9
403-248-2044  Toll free: 1-800-566-9959
admin@calgarymemorial.com

​
  • Home
  • About
    • Meet our Board
    • Our Bylaws >
      • Bylaw changes
    • Annual Meeting
    • History
    • Presentations
    • We're a co-op >
      • Funeral co-ops
    • Memorial societies
    • Legislation >
      • Consumer protection
    • Giving back
    • Testimonials
  • Plans
    • Calgary, Airdrie and Cochrane 2020-22 >
      • Plan A-1 Funeral Service with Burial
      • Plan A-2 Funeral Service with Burial (Green Casket)
      • Plan B-1 Basic Cremation
      • Plan B-2 Basic Cremation with a Funeral Service
      • Plan B3 Basic Cremation with Visitation and Funeral Service (Rental Casket)
      • Plan C-1 10% discount on the casket, the first urn (full-size or keepsake) and professional service fees
      • Additional Costs to CCMS Plans
    • Lethbridge area 2020-2022
    • Medicine Hat area 2021-2023
    • Taber area 2021-2023
  • Membership
    • Sign up here
    • Purchase by mail
    • Privacy policy
    • Terms & conditions
    • Member forms >
      • Print member card
  • Login
    • Member Login
    • Service provider sign in
  • Education
    • Newsletter
    • Final Arrangements
    • Family-Led Deathcare
    • Grieving Together
    • Permits and Registration of Death
    • Cemeteries >
      • Calgary and area cemeteries
      • Medicine Hat, Lethbridge & Taber
    • Anatomical Gifting
    • Organ donation
    • Cremation >
      • Effect of cremation on environment
    • Green burials
    • Medical Isotopes
    • Useful links
    • Financial Decision Making
    • Getting Finances in Order
    • Education Programs in the Community
    • Services for Seniors
  • Contact us
    • ​Troubleshoot: Why you are not receiving our emails