British Town Considers Stacking Bodies Before Incinerating Them

In these difficult times it's important to save every shilling. And with certain doom on the horizon, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from crematoriums is a moral obligation. So why not take a lesson from the Germans, masters of efficiency, and stack people like cordwood before shoving them into fiery ovens?

BEREAVEMENT bosses in Solihull have sparked an outcry after it was revealed they are exploring the possibility of “stacking” bodies before cremating them in order to save money.

As part of an efficiency review, the council is looking into saving costs by conducting several cremations simultaneously rather than immediately after each funeral serviced.

[...]

Coun Hogarth, who represents Silhill, said: “They are looking at ways of saving funds at the crematorium. Other councils have started not cremating the bodies straight away and they are looking at that.

“But I feel that it’s not very dignified to be doing that. I also understand that some ethnic communities, when the body has gone behind the curtains, like to go to the back room to see the final stage of the body going into the cremator.... You think it’s the final stage when the coffin goes behind the curtain. But there could be half a dozen held around the back. Councillor Craig didn’t like the word ‘stacking’, but if you’ve got a lot of coffins waiting to be cremated it’s like that, isn’t it?”

[...]

A report said: “It is accepted that cremation equipment is not always utilised in the most efficient way. This has resulted on some occasions in higher than anticipated operational and service-related costs. It is considered that by adopting a more logistical-based approached to the programming of cremations, a more efficient and effective service will be delivered that benefits the environment due to reduced carbon emissions and through the reduced use of gas and electricity.”

[Birmingham Mail]