Why Funeral Homes Must Look Deeper into Recycling at US Crematories

The significant rise in cremation coupled with the sky-rocketing use of orthopedic implants and dental prosthetics across the United States has resulted in the frequent appearance of these non-combustible metals in U.S. crematories, thus presenting unprecedented ethical and environmental disposition challenges for America’s death care industry for many years to come.

Though most funeral homes do not own or operate a crematory, the majority of cremations in the U.S. are arranged through funeral homes. Before cremation can take place, a “Cremation Authorization and Disposition Form” is signed by deceased’s authorizing agent. This form, which contains important provisions and disclosures, must disclose to families the fate of any implants or prosthetics recovered after cremating their loved ones.

For so many years, metals recovered after cremation were either buried at a cemetery or sent to landfills, a practice that didn’t require much clarification on behalf of funeral directors when obtaining a signed authorization to perform cremation. Decedent’s family members were simply informed that any implants or prosthetics recovered after cremating theirloved one will be “disposed of at crematory’s sole discretion”.

The manner in which these metals were disposed of over a very long period of time didn’t necessitate a deeper look into their types and values, however, after the cremation industry turned to recycling, members of the general public, many state agencies and officials, and prominent industry leaders and advisers called for the introduction of an industry-endorsed and publicly-accepted solution with regard to the distribution of profits earned from recyclingimplants and prosthetics recovered after the cremation process at crematories nationwide.

It was not until the founding of Alternative Solutions USA, the nation’s first and only 501 (c)(3) non-profit implant recycling program in April 2010, that recycling at U.S. crematories became a matter of great interest and concern to the general public, media, and the death care industry, especially after substantial funds were donated to charity by this unique program. 

The unprecedented amounts of funds generated for charitable organizations through the recycling activities of Alternative Solutions USA has raised important and legitimate questions about the continued practice of “Giving Away” valuable implants and prosthetics to profit-driven implant recycling companies that are donating “Little or Nothing” to charity from their very substantial profits.

Will the death care industry stand still while profit-driven implant recycling companies are cashing in on the rise of cremation, or will it act immediately, decisively, and effectively to ensure that the left behind implants of our cremated loved ones will be recycled for charity!

As recycling at America’s crematories gained momentum, funeral homesacross the nation became more compelled to update their “Cremation Authorization and Disposition Form” by adding a disclosure explaining to families that the left behind implants of their crematedloved ones will be recycled.

Disclosing to families that these metals will be recycled is a legal requirement, however, it presents serious challenges for funeral homes because recycling generates profit and families have the “Right” to know who these metals are released to and how are the profits distributed?

In spite of the fact that recycling at the crematory is a critical environmental necessity,families unequivocally support recycling the left behind implants and prosthetics of their cremated loved ones strictly for charitable purposes, and not for private gain or corporate profit.By working with crematories that are affiliated with a non-profit implant recycling program, funeral homes are unquestionably empowered to confidently discuss “Green & Charity” with families choosing to cremate their dearly departed.   

One year after its founding, this free, award-winning, ethical, and humane recycling program has generated over $50,000 for different charitable organizations chosen by contributors of materials (funeral home/ crematory/ cemetery). These donations has already generated unprecedented positive media coverage and positive public reaction that will further enhance the image of the death care industry and demonstrate its commitment to giving back to the local community whenever an opportunity presents itself.

Alternative Solutions USA is calling upon all segments of the death care industry to become involved in honoring the demands of the vast majority of the American public to end the “Commercialization” of recycling the left behind implants and prosthetics of our cremated loved ones, and ensure that profits generated through recycling are dedicated instead to charity especially during these times of extreme economic hardship across our beloved country.

We also call upon funeral homes to stop disposing of pacemakers and defibrillators in the general waste stream. These devices can be sent back to manufacturers via prepaid boxes for proper handling, quality assurance, and disposition. For detailed information on how to properly dispose of pacemakers and defibrillators recovered at your funeral home, please visit http://www.alternativesolutionsusa.org

Our ethical, legal, environmental, and humane solutions are revolutionizing the fastest growing segment of the death care industry and transforming recycling at U.S. crematories from a profit driven transaction into a charitable undertaking. The long term vision and goal of Alternative Solutions USA is to generate 2 million dollars for charity every year on behalf of our cremated loved ones and the death care industry. We can only do this with your help!