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Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum offers flameless cremation services. This cremation option—also known as alkaline hydrolysis—offers many of the environmental benefits of an eco-friendly full “green” burial, with the flexibility of traditional cremation. The process uses water instead of flame, expending 85% less energy than traditional cremation. Using a combination of gentle water flow, ordinary salts, and gravity, flameless cremation accelerates the natural breakdown of the body. When the process is complete, mineral bone cremated remains—like those from a fire-based cremation—are ready for inurnment or burial. This process mirrors what naturally happens after a green burial but in a period of 12-14 hours instead of several years. Choosing flameless cremation is not the end of the planning process. Where will your remains rest? While many people want to return cremated remains to nature, it’s important to know that scattering of cremated remains can be harmful to the environment and may be illegal in many public places.  Bellefontaine Cemetery offers several beautiful resting places for cremated remains, from our Hotchkiss Chapel Columbarium or Lakeside Columbarium to traditional burial or in-ground scattering amongst our serene gardens. Cremated remains may be interred at any site that is available for traditional burial. In addition, niches for placing urns with cremated remains are available at our open-air Lakeside Columbarium or in the simple elegance of the Hotchkiss Chapel, which provides indoor comfort in a historic setting. Bellefontaine also offers in-ground scattering in several natural settings within the Cemetery. Finally, there are gardens available for cremation burial in Wildwood Valley, located near our lakes and the stream that runs between them. Wherever you choose as your final resting place, make it a beautiful and memorable place. You deserve to be remembered for generations to come. For more information about this affordable, green cremation option, please contact Bellefontaine advisors, Gracie or Rick, at 314-381-0750, or visit https://bellefontainecemetery.org/flameless-cremation-soc/.