Green Burial Resources

Each year, 22,500 cemeteries across the United States bury approximately:

30 million board feet of hardwood caskets, including rainforest woods
80,272 tons of steel caskets
17,500 tons of copper and bronze caskets
14,000 tons of steel vaults
1,636,000 tons of reinforced concrete vaults
4.3 million gallons of embalming fluid which usually includes formaldehyde

All over the world people are exploring “green burial” as an alternative. For some this means working with cemeteries to get them to change their practices to allow burials without vaults. For others it means establishing a natural burial ground in connection with land conservation.

In Vermont, people are seeking legislation which will specifically permit green burial grounds. If you are interested in working on this, please contact us at VT-FCA@myfairpoint.net.

Here are some resources relating to green burials:

Green burial on your own property or that of an immediate family member in Vermont

Vermont law regarding burials, 18 VSA Sec. 5319

Digging Deep, Unearthing the Mysteries of Burial and Cemetary Law regarding home burials on private land, required paperwork, and transport of bodies in Vermont

Green Burial in Massachusetts an organization fostering green burial grounds in Massachusetts

Land Trust Helping to Find Site for Green Cemetery, Greenfield Reporter 3/14/2014

EarthRise Green Goodbyes video

Green Burial in New Hampsire

Green Cemetery Startup Considerations Checklist

Suggestions for Approaching Cemetery Commissioners about Green Burial

Green Burial and Land Conservation video

Reflections on green burial from the National Resources Defense Council, Green Burials – in Tune with Nature and Religious Traditions