13/02/2026
What should you NOT place inside a coffin to be cremated?
Glass can cause major damage to the hearth of a cremator as it cools and sticks to the brickwork, so please do not place any glass items whatsoever in a coffin. As glass cools, cremated remains are caught amongst the molten glass and become stuck and are therefore unable to be reduced to ash. This includes:
- Spectacles (you can leave metal frames, but glass lenses must be removed)
- Picture frames (a wooden frame and photograph can be included, but the glass must be removed)
- Ornaments containing glass
- Glass miniature bottles
Any large metal items should also be avoided. Other items that should not be placed in a coffin include:
- Alcohol
- Lighters and ci******es
- Matches
- Synthetic materials such as polyethylene, vinyl or latex
- Leather
- Anything including a battery (pacemakers, hearing aids, phones, watches, remote controls)
- E-ci******es
- Silicone
- Lime (as an odour neutraliser)
- Hard shelled items such as coconuts, unless they are drilled to depressurise them
- Fireworks
- Rubber
- Polystyrene
- Skis / ski poles
- Artificial limbs
- Large crystals / gemstones
All of the above items can either cause an explosion inside the cremator or create toxic fumes which are harmful to the environment or humans.