Colorado business offers 'water cremation,' a greener alternative to the end-of-life process

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Let’s talk about death. Emily Nelson, the founder and CEO of Be a Tree Cremation in Denver, believes there is more to death than traditional burials.
Be a Tree Cremation, the second facility of its kind in Colorado, specializes in the process of water cremation-technically known as "alkaline hydrolysis." The process, which was legalized in Colorado in 2011, is surprisingly simple.
“The decedent gets loaded directly into this vessel,” says Nelson, motioning to a large cylindrical metal tube behind her. Then, water is pumped into the vessel along with a small amount of potassium hydroxide. The mixture mimics the natural decomposition process and gently dissolves the body.
When the process is finished, all that remains in the vessel are skeletal remains and things like gold teeth and artificial joints from surgeries such as knee replacements. The skeletal remains are ground into ashes for the family. Other items are safely recycled.
The process also creates a nutrient-dense liquid branded as “Tree Tea.” Family members have the option to purchase small bottles of the liquid to use as nourishment for their plants at home.
Nelson says water cremation is one of the most natural and environmentally-friendly ways to return to the earth, which is what originally inspired her to research the process.
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[@77sunset97]

I have just become aware of this type of cremation two days ago while preparing for our dogs' imminent death and saw a veterinary practice that offered this. I have been intrigued ever since and have been researching it online for human application. Within an hour I envisioned a water cremation type facility that would be solar powered and have some farm component to it. I came across your video and loved the symbiotic relationship that you and the grower have. If I were younger and and looking to start a business with an amazing future, this is the field I would pursue. Unfortunately, I am closer in age to being a client/customer of yours! Thank you for the great video!

[@highfwiend5844]

@Ask a mortician has lots of Info on her channel about water cremation, death planning, and "greener" afterlife care. So happy colorado offers this. Yet another reason I have made CO my forever home.

[@godjhaka7376]

You will love Portland as well then.

[@abadgarcia8660]

Wow...I just have one question: what is the pH of the outlet water...if it is said to be alkaline, it has to be on average at a Ph of 10-13...But what is the pH of the water after the process? Is it neutral, ph 7?

[@Tyr-not-mars]

Wonderful to know that the body brokers cannot tamper with remains after life ends.

[@BaptistJoshua]

"...at this time." Future: "Mmm! This tomato tastes just like Grandma! 👵"

[@pamelahowe1870]

OK so how I ended up watching this video I was on Facebook some guy created a video about this technique liquid cremation for lack of the right word and that it was poured into our water system and I was horrified. !! So I did my own research on KZbin found your video and to be honest with you as long as this is not put in our drinking water and it’s used to water and nourish flowers and trees it actually seems quite beautiful. Please tell me this does not end up in our public water system?!

[@Muonium1]

The vast majority of the waste from facilities like these is simply flushed down the drain to be processed at a sewage treatment plant with the rest of a city's wastewater. Like the rest of that waste water effluent, after it's all treated it's just dumped into the nearest waterway, where, yes, some other municipality is inevitably drawing its potable water supply from downstream of that. This is inevitable. I'm skeptical that even this facility is using ALL its effluent for flower gardens and the like simply because there is going to be a LOT of it even if they're only doing one "job" a day. It's likely they too are flushing a lot down the drain.

[@Justme-su5gd]

What happens to the bones ?

[@DDELE7]

The bones are gathered up and are then pulverized, just like you would the bones to a body after a flame based cremation. What’s left are known by their technical name “cremains” aka the ashes. The ashes are then placed in an urn and are presented to the next of kin or they are scattered at sea or in a preferred location usually by the funeral director. Compared to the amount of cremains produced from a flame based cremation, it is said bio cremation produces about 15% more ashes due to the more gentle nature of the process, so the urns are naturally larger.

[@tregonzo]

If you stay still long enough, the plants will eat you. These folks just sped up the process.

[@godjhaka7376]

Caskets don't break down, and cemeteries waste of resources. Until caskets are fully biodegradable, best way is to turn yourself into a tree. They put your body I a bag and a tree grows from it

[@westwasbest]

I think the jury is out on exactly how so-called efficient and environmentally safe this process is, you failed to mention the large amounts of water necessary as well as the chemicals to process this procedure, the length of time to take, and the energy needed to operate this equipment. I'm not so sure that this is as efficient or hands over standard cremation as you indicate. Time will tell.

[@anarchisttutor7423]

I want to be turned into actual cream. Before I die I hope to find a Swedish model to apply me.

[@USA50_]

The West has many funeral practices and I like aquamation. Hopefully, it does become more common than cremation ❤️🇺🇲👍😊

[@paulbroderick8438]

Over the last few decades, all of my deceased family members pre-planned and prepaid to be flame cremated. Following tradition, I have planned in the same manner concerning myself.

[@DanDomski]

This women gives me bad vibes.

[@nicholaslandolina]

This is creepy

[@kevini4295]

I hope it is not cost prohibitive. But I want a 100% natural burial. No concrete, no expensive casket. Just put me in the ground in the woods and let nature take its course.

[@BaptistJoshua]

Remember mad cow disease?

[@asmayedeus5731]

That's a cute lady

[@hollyberg8398]

This is not what i would want. No thanks

[@BaptistJoshua]

Not all will die. Rapture.

[@lindarollins1999]

This is an great alternative. Something to really consider for myself.

[@larrycleary9987]

Definitely an alternative to consider. What is the average cost for this procedure compared to traditional cremation?

[@rockymtnpbs]

The article does more into depth on this, but it was difficult to find an average price on a tradition cremation because the prices vary so widely based on where people live. But compared to an average casket + burial, this is a much cheaper option on average.

[@js0pk0]

this all seems like a way great way to grift carbon credits like e-ron mao. but it's definitely 59 shades of grey at least, since that old world tech making a comeback is very cool. Let's just look at what the ol' petroleum-based boys at the patent office have to say about this capsule behind the pretty lady (who's smiling a lot while talking about converting corpses to fertilizer-- totally my type, i'm in love, ermagerrrd, must-be-niiiice )... where was I...? Ahh, yes, in my perpetual state of confusion. But for sure, this stuff was around in 1888, where were all the globetards back then to whine enough to scam tax dollars for pretending to help the environment that doesn't need help.

[@oliviaalaniz8305]

Hope one day to be able to offer this sort of service to families.

[@bradleyanderson5644]

Thank you beautiful blonde girl. You made me at ease a bit. Loveto see atit.

[@lindawoodcock7328]

I Think she is very unprofessional smiling almost into a li A laughter tone. No compassion nothing. I would hate for her to tell me the process after I lost a loved one and smile like she is that would not go over very well.

[@rachelkristine4669]

Yeah, considering the subject matter, her behavior ain't exactly "selling " this method to me, kinda like a bad used car salesman! 🤔

[@MisterFaucker]

Not everyone handles death the same way.

[@mikejf4377]

Question, what do you do with the bones that are left that you mentioned. Both of us have paid for cremation down here in FL, can’t see wasting a plot when we die. This would be pretty base liquid, do you neutralize it before you use it? How do you get ash from this? Very neat concept.

[@rockymtnpbs]

Thanks for the question! The bones that are left are cremated using flames, but the emissions are a lot less because it's just the bones they're doing. Those ash remains are then given to the family.

[@beatreecremation]

@@rockymtnpbs Hello there! Jumping in for a couple of corrections. We do not use fire during any part of the process. Skeletal remains are simply dried and then processed and placed in an urn. "Ashes" is a bit of a misnomer in this case.