2023 State Guide to Scattering Ashes - Kansas Edition
How much does cremation cost in Kansas: $1,817
This twenty-third edition of state guides related to scattering ashes is focused on the state of Kansas. This beautiful state is home to an abundance of lush grasslands, stunning waterfalls, and amazing lakes and rivers!
In Kansas, along with most other states, the amount of people choosing cremation over burial continues to increase (mainly due to a lower cremation cost and that families are less traditional). In addition, many people in Kansas are choosing to have their ashes scattered at a meaningful location to them or their family, or another beautiful location outdoors.
With the large number of people interested in scattering their ashes in Kansas, funeral directors throughout the state are frequently asked many questions about scattering. Some of the common questions include if they are allowed to scatter, where in Kansas they can scatter, and what type of urn or container should they use to scatter ashes? In this guide we highlight key information to answer these questions, along with many others.
Rules in Kansas for Scattering Ashes
No state laws in Kansas exist that restrict you from scattering ashes. The cremation process makes the resulting ash harmless and present no risk to our health. In Kansas, cremated ashes can be held in a grave, niche, crypt urn, or other container.
Even without state laws restricting scattering ashes, it is recommended to check with city or county government offices where you plan on scattering to make sure there are no local rules or regulations in place.
Where to Scatter Ashes in Kansas?
In Kansas, there are many beautiful places where you can scatter a loved one’s ashes. Below we’ve highlighted a few of the more common places people scatter.
- Scattering Gardens – An increasing number of churches, memorial parks, and cemeteries in Kansas now have scattering gardens, which are essentially designated areas where you can scatter a loved one’s ashes. With a quick online search, you can typically find a scattering garden near you.
- Private Property – As with most other states, there are no state laws in Kansas that restrict people from scattering ashes in their yard, or on other property they own. If there’s an interest in scattering ashes on private property owned by another person, it is important to get their permission first.
- Public Land – There are many beautiful places in Kansas to scatter a loved one or pet’s ashes. While there are no state laws that restrict this, it’s always recommended to check with local city or county government offices to learn if any local rules or other regulations are in place where you want to scatter.
- National Parks – Kansas is home to five of our National Parks! If you’re interested in scattering ashes at a National Park in Kansas or another state, be sure to check with the park ranger’s office at that location to find out if scattering is allowed there and what rules and regulations need to be followed (as every park is different).
- Water Burial – Water burials are growing in popularity throughout the U.S. If this is of interest to you, keep in mind that federal law states that it must be done at least 3 nautical miles from land and that the EPA must be given notice within 30 days of it being done.
- From the Sky – No restrictions exist in Kansas related to scattering ashes from an airplane. Just make sure whoever is doing this holds on to the urn used to scatter - federal aviation law prohibits letting go of anything from the sky that could potentially cause harm to property or people.
How to Scatter Ashes in Kansas?
More and more people in Kansas and other states throughout the country are choosing to have their ashes scattered. Along with this growing trend, new urns designed for scattering have recently been introduced. These types of urns are typically shaped like a long cylinder or tube, which helps people scatter ashes away from their body.
Below we provide information on some of the more popular scattering urns available in Kansas.
Scattering Urns
Some of the most common scattering urns used by families in Kanas and throughout the country include the Eco Scattering Urn, scattering urns made from paper, and the Eco Water Urn. These urns are all TSA complaint and are offered at reasonable price points, making them affordable for most families.
Eco Scattering Urn
The patented Eco Scattering Urn is made entirely from bamboo, a fast growing and sustainable resource. This biodegradable urn comes with a proprietary locking mechanism on top, giving families the ability to secure the ashes in the urn during transport, scatter with control and ease, and also re-secure the ashes in the urn after scattering if the family prefers to scatter at multiple locations or take some of the ashes home with them. The Eco Scattering Urn is available in 4 sizes - the small holds approximately a quarter of an average adult’s ashes, the medium can contain about half of an adult’s ashes, the large is for one full set of adult ashes, and the extra-large is for families who are interested in combining ashes of multiple people in one urn.
Scattering Urns Made from Paper
There are a number of scattering urns made from paper that are available online and at many funeral homes throughout Kansas. These are typically a lower-cost option to other urns on the market and usually come with a nature scene or other image printed on the outside. When loading ashes into a paper scattering urn, an extra step involving gluing an inner piece in place is required – this is a fairly straightforward process, and if needed, most funeral directors are willing to help.
Eco Water Urn
If you’re looking to do a water burial with a loved one’s ashes, many urn options exist for this purpose and can be found online and at funeral homes. One of the leading urns on the market for water burials is the new Eco Water Urn. This unique biodegradable urn floats upright in the water (like a buoy) and within a few minutes time the bottom will begin to break open and the ashes are gracefully released into the water. The urn comes in a bamboo protective case, which can be used to securely take the urn holding a loved one’s ashes to that special place to perform a water burial.
More Than One Memorial
Over the past few years many new and unique urns and memorial options have been introduced to cater to the significant increase in the number of people choosing cremation. With so many great new options, some families are finding it to be a challenge to only select a single memorial to honor a loved one, and instead, are choosing to divide up a loved one’s ashes into multiple memorials. This can include scattering a portion of the ashes at a meaningful place, and then using some or all of the remaining cremated ashes in a bio urn tree memorial, a unique glass decorative piece that displays an array of color, or in a stone or cremation jewelry, among many other options.