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Green Burial Questions and Answers
<>What Is “Green” Burial? Green burial is a new alternative for disposing of bodies after death—or an old tradition, depending on your perspective. Called “green” burial for its ecological soundness, it is also known as “natural” or “low-impact” burial. Basically, a green burial involves three elements: no embalming; no metal casket; and no burial vault. Proponents sometimes refer to it as “traditional” burial because it returns us to an older form of burial, still used by some 90% of the world’s population, than is typically seen in the U.S. What’s Wrong with Conventional Burial? Conventional burial, with embalming, metal or hardwood casket, and burial vault, is the most common means of body disposal in the U.S., and for some it offers comfort. But it can be very expensive, often at a time when families can least afford the expense. In addition, it inhibits decomposition of the body, and it creates “landfills” of non-biodegradable and sometimes hazardous materials. By one estimate, we bury each year approximately • 827,060 gallons of embalming fluid; • 90,272 tons of steel, 2,700 tons of copper and bronze, and 30-plus million board feet of hardwoods, much of it tropical (for caskets); and • 1,636,000 tons of reinforced concrete and 14,000 tons of steel (for burial vaults) (http://naturalburial.org). What About Cremation? Cremation is generally much less expensive than a conventional burial. It permits a much greater degree of flexibility, as cremated remains may be buried or scattered when and where the family desires. Alternatives to burial or scattering are numerous and creative (e.g., putting ashes into coral reef balls, incorporating them into various art forms, shooting them into space). Cremation requires sufficient fossil fuel to sustain a temperature of 1400º-1600º F. for some 4 hours; the heat produced by this process could be captured and used productively, but generally is not. Cremation also produces a variety of air pollutants (e.g., particulate matter, carbon monoxide, mercury, dioxin) resulting partly from the substances burned and partly from the combustion process itself. Nevertheless, within the context of an individual’s lifetime use of fossil fuels, a single cremation has a relatively small carbon footprint. It is much greener than a conventional burial. How Does Green Burial Work? With a green burial, the body is not embalmed. (Refrigeration works admirably if immediate burial is not possible or desired.) The body is enclosed in a biodegradable container, such as a wood or cardboard box, a wicker basket or Ecopod, a natural-fiber shroud, or a favorite blanket or quilt. A flat memorial stone may be used, or a grave marker may consist of a tree or other planting (often in combination with some form of computer mapping such as GPS). Burial at a depth of 4 feet or so will permit access by aerobic bacteria to enhance decomposition. Why Might I Want a Green Burial? Any burial that uses green techniques will help to conserve resources, protect groundwater, and return bodily nutrients to the soil. For many people, these are reason enough to want a more ecologically friendly going out. For the pioneers of commercial green cemeteries in the U.S., though, green burial is more than a benign form of body disposal. It is also a way of actively pursuing land preservation and restoration, in woodland settings where people can hike and picnic as well as bury loved ones. Billy Campbell, who started the first green cemetery in the U.S., sees his work as accomplishing land conservation as well as restoring death to its rightful place in the cycle of life. Is Green Burial an Option in Massachusetts? If you have sufficient land, it is possible to have a green burial on your own property. You’ll need to get approval ahead of time from your local board of health. Some municipal cemeteries are beginning to consider permitting green burials. As of this writing, at least two have formally decided to permit them—Chesterfield (in Hampshire County) and Brewster (Cape Cod). There is not yet a green cemetery in Massachusetts, although there are now green cemeteries in New York (Greensprings Natural Cemetery, outside of Ithaca; http://naturalburial.org; (607) 564-7577) and in Maine (Cedar Brook Burial Ground, west of Portland; http://greencemeteryblogspot.com; (207) 637-2085; and Rainbow’s End Natural Cemetery, south of Bangor; for more information contact JoanHoward@att.net). What Can I Do to Further Green Burial in Western Massachusetts? • Opt for a “greener” burial in a commercial cemetery: forego embalming; choose a wooden coffin (pine is good), an “alternative container” or a shroud for burial; and skip the vault, if your cemetery will permit it, or pick a concrete grave box with an open bottom to let the body come into contact with the earth. • Speak to your local Cemetery Commission about this option—or, better still, volunteer to serve on it. • Host a talk to increase awareness of this ecologically friendly burial option and generate interest and support. • If you have land that might be suitable for this purpose, consider donating it to us. • Join us! The Green Burial Committee of FCA of W. Mass., along with the FCA of E. Mass., is working to create a green cemetery in Massachusetts. We welcome your energy. • Volunteer to serve on the board of FCA of W. Mass. and help strengthen this valuable resource for funeral information and advocacy. Resources: “Greening Your Final Arrangements,” Real Money (published by Co-op America), July/August 2008, pp. 2-3. Grave Matters: A Journey through the Modern Funeral Industry to a Natural Way of Burial, by Mark Harris. New York: Scribner (2007). Caring for the Dead: Your Final Act of Love, by Lisa Carlson. A complete guide for those making funeral arrangements with or without a funeral director. Hinesburg, Vt.: Upper Access Books (1998). Funeral Consumers Alliance—a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting a consumer's right to choose a meaningful, dignified, affordable funeral. http://www.funerals.org; (800) 765-0107; in Vermont, (802) 865-8300 Funeral Consumers Alliance of Eastern Massachusetts—an affiliate of the national FCA, serving Greater Boston and Eastern Mass. regions. http://fcaemass.org; (617) 859-7990 Funeral Consumers Alliance of Western Massachusetts—an affiliate of the national FCA, serving Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties in Western Mass. through information, education and advocacy. http://funeralconsumerswmass.org; (413) 774-2320 Green Burial Council—established in 2005 to provide information, establish standards, and build networks for making burial sustainable, meaningful and economically viable. http://greenburialcouncil.org; (888) 966-3330 Ramsey Creek Preserve—the first “green cemetery” in the United States, established in 1998 by Memorial Ecosystems Inc. http://www.memorialecosystems.com; (864) 647-7798 The contents of this page is based on the FCAWM pamphlet created by Carol Coan in 2009 |