Every cremation produces NOx – both nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide – the same air polluting chemicals released by diesel cars. The latest figures published in Pharos, the cremation industry’s house magazine, show that just one cremation emits approximately 500g of NOx gas.
NOx, contributes to the formation of smog and damages human lung tissue. The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) have published a report that Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) alone causes 23,500 attributable deaths per year in the UK.
The majority of coffins used in cremations are made from chipboard or MDF, which produce the nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide harmful to human health.
Funerals using these types of coffins produce the same amount of NOx as a car driving 2,280 miles – or as if 3,650 cars drove past the crematorium during the course of every single cremation.
Lambeth now uses deNOx technology that filters out harmful emissions released into the atmosphere by up to 80 per cent. It is used by a handful of other crematoria across the UK and was installed in Lambeth by Furnace Managed Solutions.
Councillor Sonia Winifred, Lambeth Council Cabinet Member for Equalities and Culture said “Lambeth was the first London borough to declare a climate crisis and among the many ways we are working to reduce pollution, negative environmental impacts, and greenhouse gas emissions, we always welcome innovations in technology and changes to the way we do things.
“New technology enables more environmentally friendly services reducing the impact cremators have on our environment.”
For more information about the service email bereavementservices@lambeth.gov.uk or call 020 7926 4221.
