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Cemetery and consumer groups back legalizing natural organic reduction and alkaline hydrolysis; industry warns on crematory ownership changes
Summary
Cemetery officials, funeral consumer advocates and members of the public urged the committee to legalize composting-like organic reduction and alkaline hydrolysis as environmentally friendly disposition options, while cemetery associations warned that letting funeral homes operate crematories could threaten nonprofit cemetery finances.
Supporters of expanding after‑death care options told the Joint Committee on Public Health that Massachusetts should add natural organic reduction (human composting) and alkaline hydrolysis as legal disposition options and establish rules for facilities that perform those services.
Matthew Stevens, president and CEO of Mount Auburn Cemetery, told the committee that organic reduction and alkaline hydrolysis “are considered a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cremation”…
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