Here In Maryland it is required by law that all caskets be inside waterproofed concrete vaults so that the casket will remain forever. The bill benefits the vault makers only and increase the price of funerals.

Bob:

That is the most ludicrous, ignorant regulation and it flies in the face of environmentalism, for no good reason. Have you contacted any news media about this?!

This is all so silly. Why doesn't everyone just get cremated?

Cremation produces a lot of C02. I want to be thrown through a meat grinder and composted. They won't let me do it, but I would like to be in the cycle of life and nourish other lifeforms. A sky burial appeals to me too, but I would want my bones smashed so I wouldn't be put in some museum later.

i don't really have any particular preferenes. . . maybe i will when i'm older
but, i don't think i would be unhappy, assuming there is an afterlife in which you can see what happens in life, to find that my body was discovered during an archeological dig some day in the future. it's not that there's anything special about me, but rather that there isn't anything special, making me a good specimen for future researchers - but i don't have any desire to have my family go through some extra something to preserve me, either.

Personally, I think that this is a great idea. I thought it sounded a little strange at first but then I thought it was a really good "eco-friendly" concept. It would definitely leave of lasting impression of how someone cared for the earth. I think that it would be a great idea if someone wanted to be buried in a coffin that is completely biodegradable.

Personally, I think that this is a great idea. I thought it sounded a little strange at first but then I thought it was a really good "eco-friendly" concept. It would definitely leave of lasting impression of how someone cared for the earth. I think that it would be a great idea if someone wanted to be buried in a coffin that is completely biodegradable.

These look great. So simple and natural. I definitely don't need some brass tank or fire chamber.

My wife and I were just talking about the problem of non-biodegradable coffins. Now that probably may have been solved! Thanks, treehugger!

Green burial/funerals is really gaining traction.

The Green burial council just started certifying green funeral homes and green cemeteries. More info at www.greenburialcouncil.org.

You can also get more good info on green funerals at www.thegreenfuneralsite.com and www.thefuneralsite.com.

Lots of interesting options to consider.

Regards,

David

aren't human bodies considered hazardous waste now? all the preservatives, pesticides, heavy metals that build up in our bodies...

Looks like something the amish would do.

Someone needs to come up with an embalming fluid that prevents the body from decay for about a week (enough time to still have an open-casket funeral) and then break down, becoming harmless to the environment. If anyone knows of one already out there let me know.

I think this is a great idea! I want to be cremated but I can see this being an alternative. why would people want to their bodies not dissloved? I don't understand how someone would want to be preserved forever? I guess some have big egos! in the past a body was wrapped in fabric and buried thats all. and now the furneral industry makes you buy expensive coffins. forget it. Ill weave my own!

As a Native American, with great concerns about our "Mother Earth", my request to my family has been to be wrapped in a blanket and placed within "Her" to be a part of "Her" natural disposal. What greater gift can I give in return to "her" for all she has provided for all mankind.

-Embalming Fluid: There IS a formaldehyde-free embalming fluid available now, and the regular toxic embalming fluid has already been banned by the EU.
-Cremation: not only does it use energy to do something that will happen naturally, it turns out that 80% of crematoriums DON'T have filters - so not only carbon dioxide but other emissions are a big problem. I like the ceremonial feel of fire, but then the ashes give nothing back to the earth.
-Concrete vaults: never used at all in England - here, cemeteries can set their own rules, and unsustainable landscaping practices contribute to the vault requirement. You can generally get the cemetery to at least discard the lid and turn the vault upside down so as to be open on the bottom. They may require a vault with a cut-out section on the bottom, but that's at least better for the dust-to-dust cycle. This is done in Jewish cemeteries and should be standard practice everywhere.
-Did NOT know about a Maryland law - I would contact the state chapter of the Funeral Consumer's Alliance to confirm this. Often times mis-information is out there. For example, I recently heard a Massachusetts funeral director, who I believe was quite sincere, ie, not mis-informing purposely, tell his wife that you could not have a public viewing without being embalmed. That's just wrong, but he's used to doing things a certain way.

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