Hacker News Reader

Comment by datameta | Hacker News Reader

> Cremation–in which a body is burned into ash—is an energy suck and emits damaging pollutants and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

> a corpse is placed in a cylinder with organic materials, like wood chips, plants, and straw, then heated and turned repeatedly for several weeks with a hook until it’s broken down into a nutrient-rich soil

I wonder how much energy it takes to complete the composting process and how they can ensure that the electricity needed (even if less than cremation) is generated by sustainable methods.

View on HN

Turning a compost pile takes very little energy. So little in fact that a human can do it with one hand in a minute. Leave the container in the sun for heat, and turn it on an axle. In addition it's only once a day at most.

Heat in the winter would be less than the amount used for those electric blankets. In the summer you could almost power the composter with a car battery.

Cremation takes a about 40 kilowatt hours of electricity or fuel. The process usually requires very expensive furnaces that can get hot enough. In addition it requires special permits and there are a lot of regulations and zoning limitations.

However, 40 kwh isn't that much compared to steel and concrete production. Especially since the per capita is literally 40kwh. Most people use more than that to brush their teeth. The real advantage (of composting) is that it makes a cheaper alternative for families of deceased.

There are anerobic composting methods that are even more passive then what is described in the article.

For example, in Bokashi composting you innoculate your organic matter with a blend of anerobic microbes (primarily Lacto Bacillus) store in anerobic conditions for a few weeks. When you empty the bucket it doesn't look especially decomposed but it smells sweet and pickled. You can then bury it in your yard and it rapidly decomposes into soil.

This method can safely decompose meat, dairy, and all sorts of materials you wouldn't ordinarily consider safe for at home aerobic composting. I imagine it would be an ideal system for a compost burial process so long as the family is okay with the idea of fermenting their loved ones..

I would think bone doesn't break down much during this process. So what are we left to do with the mixed-up skeleton?

Aerobic bacteria in composters can eat bone, egg shells, and meat pretty well. If you are going to do it in a garden though you will want something to contain the smell and prevent breeding of pests.

https://www.cleanairgardening.com/how-to-compost-meat/

Make jelly?

Given prions, I would imagine this would be a step backward for public health.

That assumes prions.

You know what they say: assume prions, or get kuru.

That assumes public health.

I'm sure someone can calculate it, but it wouldn't be much. It'd be an electric motor running slow with relatively light weight (<300lbs). Likely less than 10kWh for the entire process.

As for sustainability, Wouldn't be hard to power the whole thing with a solar farm and batteries. That said, oregon is part of a set of states which draw a very large portion of their power from hydro.

How does anyone? Buy from a green provider or plan.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com