Yes. Green burials can be substantially less expensive because they do not include the high costs of embalming, ornate caskets, or concrete vaults. Depending on the other elements of the funeral ceremony, an eco-friendly burial could lower the cost by thousands of dollars.
What states allow green burial?
- New York.
- New Jersey.
- Connecticut.
- Iowa.
- Michigan.
- Illinois.
- Indiana.
- Louisiana.
How deep are you buried in a green burial?
Green burial graves are dug about 3.5 feet deep, rather than 5-6 feet as is necessary to accommodate large caskets in cement vaults.
What is the cheapest way to be buried?
- A Federal Trade Commission pamphlet says:
- Cremation can be a cheaper alternative to burial.
- Only a couple dozen “natural burial grounds” around the country accept shrouded bodies.
What happens to the body in a green burial?
Green burial allows full body interment into the ground in a manner that does not inhibit decomposition. The three top defining characteristics of any green burial are absence of a vault, non-toxic preparation of the body, and use of containers made of organic materials.
What happens to bones in a green burial?
A. There are no laws against reusing a plot. In many countries, graves are routinely “rented” and refilled at a later date, often removing the bones to an ossuary. Green burial cemeteries have the ability to reuse ground space in the future if desired.
How long does a body take to decompose in a natural burial?
When buried naturally - with no coffin or embalming - decomposition takes 8 to 12 years. Adding a coffin and/or embalming fluid can tack on additional years to the process, depending on the type of funerary box.
How deep is a grave for a green burial?
about 3.5 feet deep
What is the average cost of a green burial?
Tools for Investing Success Natural burials cost an average of $2,000 to $3,000 including a burial plot, interment fees and a shroud or environmentally friendly casket, according to Sehee. A traditional funeral can cost much more.
How long does it take a body to decompose in a green burial?
Decomposition of the body begins shortly after death, when cells die and begin the process of breaking down. It takes close to 72 hours for micro-organisms to begin putrefaction within the body. Keeping the body clean and cool helps to preserve the body in the short term (up to 8 days).
How deep are green burials?
As a general rule, the ideal burial depth for optimal decomposition conditions is 3.5 4 feet from the bottom of the grave to the soil horizon, which also guarantees an 18-24 inch smell barrier that prevents animals, two and four legged both, from being able to smell anything.
How is a body prepared for a green burial?
In a typical green burial, the body is not cremated, prepared with chemicals, or buried in a concrete vault. It is simply placed in a biodegradable container and interred in a gravesite to decompose fully and return to nature.