Public Survey on the Provision of Inland Ash Scattering IAS in Singapore

National Environment Agency - Food & Environmental Hygiene Department

Consultation Period: 13 Nov 2017 - 13 Dec 2017

Status: Closed - Summary of Responses

NEA’S RESPONSE TO FEEDBACK RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC SURVEY ON THE PROVISION OF INLAND ASH SCATTERING (IAS) IN SINGAPORE

1              The National Environment Agency (NEA) has concluded its public survey on the provision of Inland Ash Scattering (IAS) in Singapore. The one month survey exercise was open for public comments from 13 November to 13 December 2017.

2              During the period of the REACH survey, NEA received 196 responses. Over 80% of respondents supported the introduction of IAS as an additional option for the management of cremated human remains in Singapore.

3              NEA appreciates the responses/comments received on the proposed provision of IAS in the survey. We would like to thank all members of the public who had participated in this survey.

Detailed Description

INTRODUCTION

On 3 October 2017, the National Environment Agency (NEA) announced that it is studying the provision of inland ash scattering (IAS) services as an additional option for the placement of cremated human remains in Singapore. This is in response to interest expressed by some members of the public for other ways of handling cremated remains to be allowed here, in line with similar practices that are accepted and implemented in other countries such as Korea, Taiwan, China, the United States and Australia.

Currently, funerary service companies in Singapore are already offering some options, such as the scattering of cremated remains at sea, or turning of ashes into commemorative diamonds, as alternatives to the keeping of cremated remains in columbaria or at home.

NEA is planning to introduce inland ash scattering services at Government-run facilities. The purpose of this survey is to seek your views on inland ash scattering (IAS) as an additional after-death services option as well as on other related aspects such as design criteria, user needs and experience etc. Such views will assist NEA in our study on the provision of IAS at Government-run facilities in Singapore. 

The entire survey will take between 5-10 minutes to complete. 

We appreciate your participation in this survey.

Thank you.

GENERAL PROCESS OF INLAND ASH SCATTERING

The diagram below illustrates the general process of inland ash scattering.

The above is meant for illustration purposes and will not be an exact replica of the facility.

The diagrams below illustrate possible designs of ash scattering canister

ILLUSTRATION OF STEPS

Step 1: After cremation, the cremated remains will be made more fine to facilitate scattering, as powdered ashes.

Step 2: The powdered ashes will be contained in an ash scattering canister and transported to the ash scattering facility.

Step 3: Upon arrival, the Next-of-kin (NOK)/ Funeral Director (FD) will walk towards the ash scattering zone and conduct scattering of ashes within the designated zone which will be away from pedestrian thoroughfare.

Step 4: The ash scattering surface, which will be covered with pebbles and creepers, will be watered periodically and over time, ashes will flow and percolate into the soil underneath through the gravel bed.