Three months ago, I got a total ankle replacement—specifically, a Stryker Inbone II. Here’s what it looks like out of the package and inside my ankle:

In addition to the new ankle, I have a plate and 16 screws in my clavicle from a skiing disagreement I had with a mountain ten years ago, and I also have a 10cm stent in my iliac vein to fix something called May-Thurner Syndrome. Here’s an X-ray of the clavicle plate and screws:

So, I’m accumulating metal.

As I was lying around recovering from this most recent ankle surgery, it got me wondering: When I die, if I’m cremated, what happens to it all? Does the mortician have to remove the hardware beforehand? Do they need a toolkit to dismantle me like a used car for parts?

Because I’m incapable of leaving a question like this unanswered, I dug into the logistics of cremation. Here is what I found.

The Heat vs. The Hardware

First, the mortician does not remove orthopedic implants. You go into the chamber as-is.

However, there is an exception for devices with batteries, such as pacemakers or spinal stimulators. Those explode when heated, which is generally frowned upon in the funeral industry. Those have to be removed before cremation. But an inert metal? It stays.

A cremation chamber usually hits temperatures between 1,400°F and 1,800°F. While that’s hot enough to reduce the human body to ash, it’s not even close to the melting point of medical-grade titanium or surgical steel, which can withstand temperatures north of 3,000°F.

So, while the rest of me disappears, my ankle, the clavicle plate, the 16 screws, and the stent will emerge from the fire glowing, sterile, and completely intact.

The Sorting Process

After the process is done, the remains aren’t just ash; they are a mix of bone fragments and my metal collection. The crematory operator must then separate the two.

They typically use a high-powered magnet or visual inspection to pull the metal out. The bone fragments are then processed into ashes, which are returned to the family. The metal is set aside.

The Ultimate Recycling Program

This is the part I found most interesting. Years ago, these leftover metals were often buried in a hole on the cemetery grounds. It was essentially a medical landfill.

Today, however, the industry has shifted toward recycling. Most crematories partner with specialized companies that collect these metals. They are melted down and reused for industrial purposes—aviation components, car parts, or construction materials.

Even better, the proceeds from this recycling usually don’t go to the funeral home’s bottom line; standard practice is to donate the funds to charity.

I find something strangely comforting about that. I’ve spent my career trying to be efficient and productive. It’s nice to know that even after I’m gone, my leftover bionic parts might eventually be turned into something useful.