Toledo explores cremating the poor instead of burial

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — One of Ohio’s largest cities is running out of room to bury the poor and is considering cremating people who die with no money for burial.

Toledo now buries indigent people in the city’s Forest Cemetery, but parks and forestry commissioner Dennis Garvin tells The Blade newspaper only about 700 plots are left.

Officials say each cremation would cost the city $725 — $600 less than a burial. Thirty-six poor people were buried by Toledo in 2010.

The city’s law director points out that other communities already cremate the indigent. Cincinnati has been doing so since 2006.