News Maidstone Crematorium donates £10,000 to Mid Kent Mind

Maidstone Crematorium has donated £10,000 to Mid Kent Mind through its Metal Recycling Scheme.

Maidstone Borough Council who own the Vinters Park Crematorium first gain written consent from bereaved families, then following a cremation any metals retrieved are stored safely and collected quarterly. They are then taken to Sheffield for separation, sorting and smelting and a high percentage of the higher-grade cobalt steel is sent to two companies that manufacture new orthopaedic implants. Any lower graded metal is traditionally recycled.

Mid Kent Mind are thrilled with the donation, Tom Fishenden, their Community Engagement Officer said:

“Thank you for facilitating this donation and making it possible. This is a wonderful scheme which I personally wasn't aware of before being contacted by The Council, but I hope that knowing the difference this money makes to local organisations helps to bring some positive closure to families involved in the scheme.”

The scheme is run by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) and since joining in 2013 Maidstone Borough Council has donated £80,076 to bereavement related charities. The donations started out as £5,000, then £8,000 and this is the second one for £10,000.

Cllr Daniel Rose, Chair of the Communities, Housing and Environment Committee added:

“We really appreciate how difficult a decision it must be for any bereaved family to consent to orthopaedic implants such as knee and hip replacement joints being removed from the ashes. However, we are extremely grateful they do, as it is making such a huge difference to our local charities.”

For more information on the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) Metal Recycling Scheme, please visit:

https://www.iccm-uk.com/iccm/?pagename=recyclingmetal&pagename=recyclingmetal

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