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The final stage of the funeral is the process of placing the coffin into the cremator. Close family members can arrange to witness this with the Bereavement Services Office. You will also need to tell the Funeral Director of this requirement.
Owing to the limited space available, we are only able to accommodate a maximum of 4 people to witness the coffin being placed in the cremator. Please tell your Funeral Director of these requirements as early as possible.
We transfer the coffin into the crematory at the end of the service. We check the nameplate on the coffin against an identity card before cremation. The identity card stays with the cremated remains throughout the process.
After the cremation process we recover the cremated remains from the cremator. They are then cooled and processed to reduce them to a fine granular state.
The cremated remains are placed in a fully bio-degradable box. However you can choose your own container if you wish.
Find out more about cremated remains options.
Find out more about the costs.
Recycling of metals following cremation
If your loved one had an orthopaedic implant you may wonder what happens to it after cremation.
The metals used for implants are stainless steel, titanium and cobalt chrome. All these special medical grade metals are from non renewable resources. We want to protect our environment and so with your consent, collect and recycle these metals.
We donate all the money we receive from recycled metals to local bereavement charities.
We won’t do this without your consent and have an option on our cremation forms for you to confirm your choice.
If you do not wish to recycle the metals, we are happy to return them to you or leave them with the cremated remains. If they are left with the cremated remains they will need to be buried rather than scattered. Find out more about the options for cremated remains.
We believe recycling is good for the environment and is a real benefit but it is a personal choice.
Environmentally friendly coffins
We welcome the use of environmentally friendly coffins and containers such as wicker, bamboo and cardboard coffins. If you wish to find out more about coffins, please speak with your Funeral Director. If you wish to build or purchase the coffin yourself, please contact our offices for further information.
Embalming – environmental issues
The embalming process involves removing the body fluids and replacing them with a solution of formaldehyde, often containing a pink die. The body fluids are treated and disposed of by the public sewer. The embalming fluid normally consists of a 2% solution of formaldehyde and irritant volatile acid.
Those who have concerns that embalming fluid may pollute the environment have a right to stipulate that this is not carried out on their body after death. Similarly, executors or nearest relatives making funeral arrangements can specify that embalming is not carried out on the deceased.
Further information about embalming
Embalming is defined as the preservation of a body from decay, originally with spices and more recently through arterial injection of embalming fluid.
Historically, the process is identified with the Egyptians and the mummification of bodies. In fact this complicated and extreme method was abandoned, although in recent centuries ways of preserving bodies have been received considerable attention. Varying levels of success were achieved but probably due to expense, there were utilised by very few people.
The current word ‘embalming’ is misleading. The process is generally referred to as a hygienic treatment. It is used to improve the visual appearance of the body and to prevent deterioration in the period leading up to the funeral which would make the viewing of the deceased by relatives a less distressing event. It has no long-term preservation value and cannot be compared with the Egyptian concept of preserving bodies.
The decision as to the merits of embalming must lie with the individual.