Water key to body disposal

Undertaker’s new process helps environment

A NORTH Queensland undertaker has solved an ageold problem – how to dispose of a cadaver in the cleanest, most environmentally friendly way.

Now Jeff Boyle of Whitsunday Funerals is set to put his family’s plan into action.

They have taken out a worldwide patent on an alkaline hydrolysis chamber and water purification unit they have manufactured, which he says is the way of the future.

“As soon as we get out there and show people how it works and how good it is for the environment, everyone will jump on board,” Mr Boyle said.

“It’s what we are all looking for – something that’s environmentally friendly and not harsh on the body.”

Whitsunday Funerals operates in Mackay, Proserpine and Bowen, while Mr Boyle’s brother Neville, who has applied to install one of the machines, operates

Cremations.

That application for suburban Railway Estate, opposite a pub and near residential homes, has raised at least one objection from senior principal of town planning firm Brazier Motti, Stephen Motti, who has questioned not only ly whether it is appropririate for the area but its ts potential odour and nd waste impacts.

Mr Boyle (pictured), d), who is preparing to manufacture the maachines in Proserpine for fu funeral directors here and overseas, contacted the Bulletin to argue the case for units.

There was no odour, air quality impact, noise or waste, he said.

By contrast, remains from burials could seep into watercourses, while cremators, required to be heated to more than 830C, were energy and

Townsville carbon intensive. “To say that there is an impact on the environment or nearby residents is false,” Mr Boyle said.

“Our unit is unlike any other alkaline hydrolysis system in the world because it has a worldwide patented water purific purification system, which is wh why it is 100 per cent enviro ronmentally friendly.”

Mr Boyle said he had sea searched the world for alter ternatives and had develop oped prototypes, which inc included water purifica cation because of concern wat water could be put into sewers.

“There is no town water connection required and no connection to town sewerage. The whole process is a closed system,” Mr Boyle said.

In their process, which they have called The Gentle Way, the body is placed into a sealed stainless steel chamber.

Potassium is added to the water to raise the alkalinity, which is what breaks down the body – just as it does in a burial but faster. Mr Boyle said the process took 10-12 hours.

Food acid is then used to return the ph of the water to neutral.

Mr Boyle said the water was drained into a tank and passed through a membrane filter, carbon filter and UV steriliser before it was run into another tank, to be re-used.

He said the membrane filter was backflushed and the water put into a pot containing a rose bush or tree.

Mr Boyle said the process left clean bones, which were dried and powdered in a cremulator to put into an urn for relatives.

“The Gentle Way system was designed and manufactured to eliminate any environmental impacts whatsoever when it comes to dealing with the remains of a loved one,” Mr Boyle said.