https://lenews.ch/2023/03/18/empty-s...nd-a-new-life/

Swiss cemetery plots are not forever. High fees and time limits ensure regular plot turnover. With rising numbers of cremations some cemeteries are emptying, reported RTS.

Our village cemetery has only 20 plots or so, and half are now empty.

Spread my ashes from the Point Dufour …

A couple of years ago my wife decided to visit her grandmother's grave but it was gone.

Now there is a debate about what to do with the money she left for the grave maintenance, I am in the throw-a-party group.

So I have been wondering what they do with the remains when they recover the plot... ossuary, crush, cremate?

As we live in a farming community my hope is that they return them to the soil, that is if there is anything left after 30-50 years.

I guess I had it in my mind that the "thing" to do now is to be cremated and then have your ashes buried in a cemetery? That's what was done with both of my husband's parents at least -- their ashes were buried in a shared grave, in a cemetery here. Then we tend to the flowers, etc. on their grave plot.

Having a corpse preserved in a coffin always seemed a bit strange to me.

I actually thought this was standard, internationally. If you don’t pay, it goes to someone else? Or is cremation more expensive long-term than burial?
But just talking from a UK perspective.

I believe they are all buried together in a common plot, at least that’s how it’s done in Neuchâtel.

A body is not 'preserved' - a simple wooden coffin will soon degrade and the body with it.

Yes, great to live in a small village where there is plenty of space still, and with ancient graves preserved. My mum wanted to be buried, and we put my dad's ashes with her, as he wanted to be cremated. I shall be buried there in the simplest of natural coffin, and OH will be cremated and put in my grave.

Just 300m South from our house.

If the ground contains too much clay, bodies may actually be preserved.

I remember a tv feature about a village cemetery ravaged by a flood and people actually recognized former teachers of theirs….

Lots of limestone here, and soil which is very permeable, on top of a hill- so no worries. Coffins should be natural and not covered with polluting layers of lacquer, and only have natural lining materials. Cardboard even better- for me, I'd like a natural wicker one- will have to bring one back on top of car roof next time we go, lol.

Cremation is actually not ecological at all- again, especially if made with exotic wood and lots of lacquer and metal handles, etc, and use a lot of energy.

https://www.somersetwillowcoffins.co.uk/

I’ve gone off the idea of cremation. Looking for other solutions that are greener.

There is also the possibility to rent a coffin where the outer part is nice looking wood with brass handles, but lined with a cheap cardboard inner part to hold the body. Example:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/18427...-rent-coffins/

I can see how that would work at a cremation where the coffin slowly moves, on some sort of conveyor belt, accompanied by sombre music, through a curtain. In the background, the coffin can be recovered for reuse. I can't quite see how that would work for an actual burial, though, where the coffin would be lowered into the grave with relatives watching. Maybe with a cunning design where the cardboard inner lining drops out through a trapdoor and the outer shell of the coffin folds up, by some sort of conjuring trick, for discreet recovery.

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I have it in my will that I’m happy with a 30c paper Coop carrier bag, or whatever is more ecological or cheapest

You don't sound anyway like a customer for an XXL plus size coffin, or is the carrier bag just for the ashes?

Thank you . I get that the ritual of things like baptism, marriage, funerals and all that stuff is standard, and needed by many. But I do not want for my loved ones to see me go through those curtains to be incinerated (or lowered into the ground to rot). Even in a luxury box.

I’m happy to be prodded around and used for medical donation / research / training for horrible med students when my time comes. As long as my body is not displayed in an exhibition.

What's the issue. Just tell your relatives and friends this is what you want- and they will have to accept it. No issue at all. Just wouldn't bother with the outer 'pretend' layer myself.

Just putting the options out there:

https://newinzurich.com/2021/05/body...le-622-zurich/

https://www.anatomy.uzh.ch/de/koerperspende.html

I can see the logic behind this.
It would have to be pretty heavy duty cardboard to be able to take the weight of a person being carried down the church, to the grave, crematorium or whatever.
Carrying the low budget eco friendly coffin inside a much stronger re-useable one does make a lot of sense.

Yes, if all the above. No Church for me, and a short 300m ride to the cemetary. The Undertaker can park at the entrance, and then carry on load bearer 50 metres. Easy peasy.

For minimum footprint think human composting.


How it works: https://www.theverge.com/c/23307867/...ss-return-home

Not yet available in Switzerland but perhaps soon: https://www.srf.ch/wissen/mensch/hum...per-humus-wird