Posted by Vale
We’ve all heard people say it, but now an extensive survey carried out by a major national chain has confirmed it: 61.5% of adult males over the age of 60 really do want to be put into a black plastic bag and thrown on the rubbish heap.
In response to what they see as an overwhelming vote amongst the target demographic a new bag based service is currently being planned. A spokesman said today ‘we see it as another choice for our customers. If it’s what they want, who are we not to try to exploit them’.
In spite of the demand no launch date for the new service has yet been set. ‘It’s taking longer than we thought it would to agree collection arrangments with local councils. They’re just not as customer driven as we are and are raising all sorts of objections to picking up the bags with the weekly collection.’
One option being considered to overcome Council objections is the the coffin bin which, being wheeled, will better fit with modern collection methods.
Here at the GFG Batesville Tower, we can see that this informality is part of the same trend that is shaping the direct cremation business – but shouldn’t there be some thought about the bagging process? Come on you celebrants out there – if we have to ‘bag and tag’ what sort of ceremony could be held as grandad is being popped in? Or, if that is being done by the funeral director, how do we ritualise the journey, by bag or in wheeled bin, to the kerbside?
I feel bags are just a step too far. The wheelie-bin (dressed as a coffin for the day) is the only way, and for a reduced fee (negotiable) I will: ensure that the deceased is placed in the right colour bin (particularly important in areas with alternate week collections) stand by the bin – front or back door, garden gate or drive, any area, rough middling or exclusive set up a video camera so family members don’t need to attend at all draft a suitable ceremony of at least three minutes, including a few (brief) thoughts about the way being… Read more »
“61.5% of adult males over the age of 60 really do want to be put into a black plastic bag and thrown on the rubbish heap.” I presume, Vale, they mean after they’ve died? I for one would prefer to be exsaccine until then; and don’t start talking about wheeled bins for the purpose or they’ll start making them out of cardboard with pretty pictures on and charging the earth for them. As for appropriate ceremony to render the dead kerbside ready for collection, I think the idea behind this kind of thinking is unceremoniosity; half=empty pizza containers, baked bean… Read more »
Some important points Jonathon. I haven’t seen the survey myself, but I expect the 61.5% is a post mortem wish. If not, early bagging would certainly be a novel approach to pre-need planning. I think this is worth following up. A pro-active approach in this area might be part of a radical but helpful solution to some of the difficulties our aging population is currently posing. Cost is an issue too. Off the record the GFG was advised that bagging was not likely to be much cheaper than the standard funeral ‘because we will take exactly the same care of… Read more »
Does this mean that “Carl the Coffin” is about to be gazumped by “Billy the Bag”?
….or even “Sammy the Sack”….
i fancy a rather tart lemon skin cover wrapped round the bin to see me out, (should I ever get to 60 that is….)
http://www.binskins.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/lemonpanels1.jpg
I reckon I would offer the bin operatives a tenner each to shoulder the bin to the truck, tip me in, a tenner more to hum/whistle ‘Always look on the bright side’ and get a fab photographer like Rachel Wallace to take some tasteful photos and present the family with an online album linked to Genes Reunited for posterity …
I want to see a FD paging a bin.
Bearing in mind the date, I take this survey result with a pinch of salt. The idea has some merit thou – but I think we’ll need larger food caddy’s, as the average bloke wouldn’t fit into the ones my council supplies for my kitchen waste 🙂
I once saw an FD paging a colander … or there again it could have been a Daimler DS420 hearse. Very little difference with some of the earlier specimens!
Paging a colander? That would be very draining, and holey impractical Nick. I saw an FD paging a hearse and a cortège of 400-odd bikers once. It made the local paper the next day, and the headline under the photo proclaimed “Sex Pest Strikes Again”.
@ David Holmes who said it has to be in one piece?
@ Kingfisher laughed out loud – very Dad’s Army,
We love a good dripping tale, sorry gripping….. I mean gripping, we love a good gripping tale.
And I’m afraid my mind is boggling rather inappropriately at the headline imagery, I may indeed have to reach for the salts…