CAMEO saves over 20% of crematoria
Thanks to CAMEO (Crematoria Abatement of Mercury Emissions Organisation) the cremation sector is managing to meet the most complex environmental challenge it has faced in many years. The scheme does not embroil operators in administrative red tape and, most importantly, will potentially prevent over 20% of crematoria from going out of business.
At a meeting in Stratford-upon-Avon on June 28, CAMEO – which operates under the auspices of the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities (FBCA) – discussed the most efficient and economic ways of reducing mercury emissions.
The Government believes that levels of mercury emitted from crematoria – which are caused by the high number of amalgam fillings in teeth and were estimated to be up to 10% of all mercury emitted in the UK in 1999 – will increase to around 25% by 2020 if action is not taken. It has therefore determined that, by the end of 2012, 50% of all cremations must be subjected to a filtration process so as to alleviate the harmful effects of mercury emissions.
Mercury is known to be toxic and can damage the brain, kidneys and nervous system, while unborn children are believed to be particularly susceptible to its effects. Since mercury can be transmitted through the air stream and deposited in water, including the seas around Britain, the fear is that it will re-enter the food-chain through fish.
Installing the necessary filtration equipment is likely to leave a crematorium facing a bill of more than £500,000, so the Government is supporting the sector by allowing the required reduction in mercury emissions to be achieved by ‘burden-sharing’. In effect, this means the cost will be shared between crematoria operators who have the space and resources to fit the equipment and those that do not and, in some cases, might otherwise be faced with closure.
Crematoria that decide to burden share through CAMEO will pay an agreed amount into the scheme as the legislation comes into effect, in order to meet their obligation to abate 50% of all the cremations they carry out. The monies will then be redistributed to the crematoria which have fitted the equipment. This ensures the costs of complying with the Government’s policy are shared fairly across the sector.
In order to keep charges to the bereaved at a practical minimum over the long term, CAMEO recommended that an environmental surcharge of £35 per cremation be applied from the beginning of this year. Taking action now will avoid huge increases when the legislation comes into force. Over half the crematoria in the UK are following CAMEO’s lead and applying an environmental surcharge, which is proving to be an acceptable solution to the general public.
Other funeral sector trade associations are highly supportive of CAMEO, including the Cremation Society. The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) in particular has not only worked very closely with the FBCA to establish CAMEO, but has also helped make the case for burden sharing by lobbying through the All Party Parliamentary Funerals and Bereavement Group. In addition, the funeral sector is represented by NAFD member Richard Barradell, who sits on the CAMEO management board.
NAFD chief executive officer Alan Slater said: “CAMEO is enabling the cremation sector to meet its obligations and an environmental surcharge is the best way to achieve the Government’s requirement for a 50% reduction in mercury emissions at the lowest cost to bereaved families.
At the Cremation Masterclass in Stratford-upon-Avon cremation industry experts advised how buildings could best be altered to accommodate filtration equipment and highlighted steps designed to minimise disruption to services during its installation. Delegates were also given advice on how to finance such projects and how the new legislation will be enforced.
Mike Etkind, head of the Local Air Pollution Policy team at DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), expressed his confidence that, in view of the progress to date, the sector will meet the legislative requirements through practical adoption of the burden-sharing concept. He also reminded crematoria operators that they have impressed the Government with the energetic and imaginative way they are tackling the issue.
“We are delighted with the response to this event, which has proved highly informative for all concerned and shows, once again, just how committed everyone is to reducing in mercury emissions,” said FBCA president and CAMEO chairman Adrian Britton. “The cremation sector has every reason to be proud of the detailed and sensitive way it is tackling this challenge in order to help the bereaved by keeping increases in cost to a minimum, while also complying with the requirements of the legislation in full.”