Alkaline Hydrolysis Wyoming

If you are looking for an environmentally conscious alternative to flame cremation in Wyoming, alkaline hydrolysis — commercially called aquamation or water cremation — is fully legal and has been since 2014. Wyoming is among a progressive minority of states that have formally regulated this process, giving families a third option beyond traditional burial and flame cremation.

What Alkaline Hydrolysis Is and How It Works

Wyoming law refers to this process as "chemical disposition." The procedure uses a combination of gentle water flow, elevated temperature, and an alkaline solution (potassium hydroxide) to accelerate natural decomposition. The process essentially mirrors what happens during natural burial, but completes it in approximately twenty hours instead of years.

The body is placed in a stainless steel vessel filled with the alkaline solution. Over the course of the cycle, all organic tissue dissolves, leaving only bone mineral behind. Those bone fragments are then processed into a fine powder and returned to the family in an urn — exactly the same end result as flame cremation, but achieved through chemistry rather than heat.

Alkaline hydrolysis produces significantly fewer carbon emissions than flame cremation. There is no mercury release from dental fillings, no combustion byproducts, and the sterile liquid effluent is safely returned to the water treatment system.

Wyoming's Regulatory Framework

Wyoming governs alkaline hydrolysis under 035-6 Wyo. Code R. § 6-6. The regulations are specific about facility standards to ensure complete tissue dissolution and public safety.

Licensed facilities must use a purpose-built, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) certified pressure vessel for systems operating above atmospheric pressure. This certification ensures the equipment meets industrial safety standards for temperature, pressure, and containment.

The same legal requirements that apply to flame cremation also apply to alkaline hydrolysis:

• A burial-transit permit must be issued before the process can begin
• The 24-hour waiting period after death applies
• Written authorization from the county coroner is required
• The person with the legal right to control disposition must authorize the procedure

From a paperwork standpoint, families choosing alkaline hydrolysis follow the same administrative path as those choosing cremation. The Wyoming Funeral Laws & Consumer Rights Guide walks through every step of that process, including the authorization forms and timeline.

What Is Not Legal in Wyoming

While alkaline hydrolysis is available, Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) — commonly called human composting — has not been authorized by the Wyoming Legislature as of 2026. Families with a strong commitment to NOR must arrange interstate transportation of remains to a state where it is legal, such as Colorado or Washington.

This distinction matters because NOR and alkaline hydrolysis are often discussed together as "green alternatives," but they have completely different legal statuses in Wyoming.

Finding a Provider in Wyoming

While alkaline hydrolysis is fully legal, commercial availability of functional aquamation facilities within Wyoming remains limited. Not every funeral home that offers cremation also offers alkaline hydrolysis. Before committing, verify that the selected provider actually maintains an active, ASME-certified pressure vessel on-site.

Some Wyoming funeral homes that advertise aquamation may use third-party transfer agreements, shipping the remains to facilities in neighboring states. This is legal but adds transportation time and cost. Ask the funeral home directly whether the process happens on-site or involves a transfer.

When comparing costs, alkaline hydrolysis typically falls between the price of direct cremation and a traditional burial, though pricing varies significantly between providers and regions within Wyoming.

How It Compares to Other Disposition Options

Wyoming families choosing between disposition methods should understand the practical differences:

• Flame cremation: Fastest processing time, widest availability, most funeral homes offer it
• Alkaline hydrolysis: Lower environmental impact, same end result as cremation, limited provider availability in Wyoming
• Traditional burial: Highest cost, requires cemetery plot or private land burial site
• Green burial: No vault or embalming required by Wyoming state law, lower cost than traditional burial

All four options require the same initial paperwork: a filed death certificate and a burial-transit permit from the local registrar. The legal framework for navigating these options — including your rights regarding pricing, containers, and provider selection — is covered in detail in the Wyoming Funeral Laws & Consumer Rights Guide.

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