The specifics of a green burial vary greatly, but they usually require far fewer resources to take care of the body and skip a number of traditional steps, making them better for the environment. In addition, they can save families on funeral expenses. “Thinking about the impact of elimination on the environment is a new idea,” said Acciavatti. “And I would say the other big problem is access: even though there are more than 150 green cemeteries in the U.S. and Canada, there are still not enough.” Any move to change the cemetery law would make Washington a rare case, said Marsh, the legal expert. Green Burial, the collective term for these efforts, takes many forms, from no-frills burials in conventional cemeteries to extensive wilderness conservation operations. Cemetery operators say they are seeing a growing interest in these less conventional end-of-life options. Death planning is a deeply personal and often unpleasant subject, so the reasons for preferring one type of burial over another are as diverse as you can imagine. But for many people who choose a green burial, it can come down to cost, environmental impact, and legacy. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued two decisions that have some relevance to green and natural landfilling in the United States. One rule is the funeral rule, which protects a consumer`s right to choose only the goods and services they want or need and to pay only for the services they choose.
This means that everyone has the right to plan a natural funeral with their funeral home. (In our experience, funeral homes will meet every family`s wishes, no matter how strange they may be — within the limits of the law, of course — and charge a fair fee for expenses and services.) This is difficult to determine because not all funeral homes that offer green funeral homes list these services on their website. As interest in natural burial options increases, there are now more funeral homes that also meet this demand. The Green Burial Council lists one supplier in San Antonio, and A Greener Funeral.org lists five green funeral homes in Texas. The Green Burial Council website has information, a list of vendors, and additional resources for those interested in a green burial. Green burial sites are divided into 3 categories: Hybrid (H) – a standard cemetery that has adopted a section as a designated green burial area, Natural Burial Ground (NB) – a designated green funeral cemetery and Conservation Burial Ground (CBG) – a designated and protected nature reserve where green burials are performed to preserve (and restore) the natural habitat. Hybrid cemeteries are much more common. “Growth has been slow, slow, but we`re seeing the bump happen now,” said Brian Flowers, funeral coordinator at Moles Farewell Tributes, which organizes green funerals as well as more conventional options in Washington state.
Many followers of Islam and Judaism use similar practices, burying the dead in an untreated wooden shroud or coffin without cremation or embalming. Such techniques are allowed in any jurisdiction, but new cemeteries with an explicit focus on green burial have encountered obstacles. Nor is there any state law that dictates what a coffin should consist of. A coffin can be made of paper, cardboard, cotton, wicker, banana leaves, felt, wood or any other material [legally available]. The only limit is our creativity. There are three factors to consider the cost of a green burial. First, let`s look at the cost of a green cemetery. You can buy a single funeral plot, an accompanying plot or a family property. Land prices vary at green burial sites in Texas, but it`s fair to say that a single lot can be purchased for as little as $300, although the average cost of a green burial lot is closer to $1,400. In addition to purchasing the actual funeral property, the natural burial site may charge a small fee for the open/closed property. In other words, you buy land for the grave, and then they charge you the cost of digging the grave when the funeral takes place. These fees are usually between $300 and $600.
A mixed funeral combines elements of more conventional practices with green burial options. For example, you may want to consider a home funeral and a funeral in a traditional cemetery, or you may opt for a funeral service at the church followed by a green burial. A funeral director may be involved in certain administrative aspects, such as transporting the body or supplying, filling out and filing documents, while family and friends can handle the more personal details. A mixed funeral can sometimes give you more choices, especially if there are few options available in your area. Ms. Acciavatti and many others in the industry believe that public education, as well as continued investment in green practices, not only helps the environment, but also people. While there is no state law explicitly preventing green burial — generally defined as burials that take place in eco-friendly, embalmed containers — cemetery operators across the country say outdated state and local laws have made it harder for green burials to gain a foothold. – Are green burials cheaper than conventional burials? Green landfills dispose of much of this waste by omitting almost all of this material; Most bodies are simply wrapped in shrouds made of a biodegradable material such as cotton and placed in the ground. And while cremations often have a reputation for being an environmentally friendly option, they tend to have an oversized carbon footprint. The Order of the Good Death, a collective of funeral pump professionals, academics and artists, has an informative page on green burials. Looking for a green burial for you and your pet? Visit the Green Pet-Burial Society. Finally, you need to decide if you will use the services of a funeral director.
There are a number of green funeral service providers in Texas. Their professional services include: collecting the deceased, storing in the refrigerator as needed, receiving the death certificate and any necessary burial or transportation permits, and transporting the deceased to the burial site for burial. The average service fee for funeral homes for a green funeral in Texas ranges from $2,000 to $4,000. The characteristics of a green burial vary, but most have several similarities that aim to reduce the environmental impact of end-of-life arrangements. In most cases, these burials use biodegradable and environmentally friendly storage materials and containers avoiding the following: But how necessary are these ornaments? Enter the “green burial”. Due to the wide range of options available today, it is important to make sure that your last wishes are written down and that your preferences are clearly listed. Specify where the funeral is to be held, such as a morgue certified to perform ecological services. Things to specify include: Death planning may not be at the top of your idea, but if you`re curious to look into a green funeral, here`s what you need to know. Home funerals allow families to take care of the deceased and all aspects of a funeral at home. These arrangements were the norm in the United States until the 1930s. In the case of a home funeral, the parent or a legally appointed representative retains the bodyguard between death and disposition (burial or cremation) and is responsible for the preparation of the body by legally authorized means.
It`s a good idea to look at all of these methods and consider hiring a home funeral guide for support during this time. Jeff Jorgenson, owner of Elemental Cremation and Burial in Washington, said not embalming is a crucial part of green funerals. Many of our Simple Pine Box coffins, although destined for natural burial, are enclosed in concrete vaults in conventional cemeteries. Individuals often want to stay in their family properties and close to their loved ones, but always want a “greener” funeral. The 100 trees we plant for each coffin we make help offset the vault`s carbon footprint in four years. Because funeral costs vary not only from state to state, but also from cemetery to cemetery, hybrid cemeteries – or those that offer both conventional and green burials – offer a balanced view of the financial aspect of death.
