Green burial is the fastest-growing segment of the US funeral industry. Here's what the options are, where they're available, and how to find a provider.
What Is Green Burial?
Green burial encompasses end-of-life practices designed to minimize environmental impact. This ranges from natural burial (no embalming, no vault, biodegradable container) to newer options like aquamation and human composting.
Natural Burial
In natural burial, the body is buried without embalming, in a shroud or biodegradable casket, without a concrete vault — allowing natural decomposition. Over 100 green burial grounds now operate across the US, certified by the Green Burial Council. It is typically less expensive than conventional burial.
Aquamation (Alkaline Hydrolysis)
Aquamation uses water and an alkaline chemical process to return the body to its natural components. The result is a white, fine powder similar to cremated remains. It uses 90% less energy than flame cremation. As of 2024, it is legal in approximately 25 states.
Human Composting
Human composting (natural organic reduction) transforms the body into soil over 4–6 weeks using a controlled microbial process. Currently legal in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Vermont, California, and New York. Companies include Recompose (Seattle) and Return Home (Auburn, WA).
Step 1: Find Your State
Green burial itself is legal everywhere in the US — no state requires embalming or a casket for burial, and every state allows burial in a dedicated green cemetery or a hybrid section of a conventional one. What varies is burial on your own land. Find your state below — the row tells you where you stand and exactly who to call next.
| State | Private-property burial | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Alaska | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Arizona | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Arkansas | Allowed | Permitted under state law; confirm your county's lot-size and recording rules with the state health department. |
| California | Allowed | Permitted under state law; confirm your county's lot-size and recording rules with the state health department. |
| Colorado | Allowed | Permitted under state law; confirm your county's lot-size and recording rules with the state health department. |
| Connecticut | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Delaware | Restricted | Allowed outside town limits, and only in Kent and Sussex counties. Confirm your address with the Delaware Division of Public Health. |
| Florida | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Georgia | Restricted | Allowed everywhere except Bibb County. Confirm with the Georgia Department of Public Health. |
| Hawaii | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Idaho | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Illinois | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Indiana | Allowed | Permitted under state law; confirm your county's lot-size and recording rules with the state health department. |
| Iowa | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Kansas | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Kentucky | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Louisiana | Allowed | Permitted under state law; confirm your county's lot-size and recording rules with the state health department. |
| Maine | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Maryland | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Massachusetts | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Michigan | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Minnesota | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Mississippi | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Missouri | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Montana | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Nebraska | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Nevada | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| New Hampshire | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| New Jersey | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| New Mexico | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| New York | Restricted | State law requires a licensed funeral director to supervise the interment, not a county sign-off — find one nearby. |
| North Carolina | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| North Dakota | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Ohio | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Oklahoma | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Oregon | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Pennsylvania | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Rhode Island | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| South Carolina | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| South Dakota | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Tennessee | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Texas | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Utah | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Vermont | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Virginia | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Washington | Allowed | Permitted under state law; confirm your county's lot-size and recording rules with the state health department. |
| West Virginia | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Wisconsin | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
| Wyoming | Allowed | Not addressed by state law — allowed if your county zoning permits it. Call the state health department and ask about your specific county. |
Sources: Burial Laws by State, World Population Review, State health department directory, USA.gov
Step 2: Know What It Costs
This is where the real variation is, and it does not track state lines the way you might expect — it tracks the provider. Green burial sits between direct cremation and a full traditional burial:
| Option | Typical total cost | What that includes |
|---|---|---|
| Direct cremation | $1,200 – $3,300 | No embalming, no service, no cemetery plot |
| Green burial | $1,500 – $4,000 | No embalming, no vault, biodegradable container or shroud, cemetery plot included |
| Traditional burial | $8,300 – $17,500+ | Embalming, casket, cemetery plot, and vault, with the full range depending on cemetery fees |
Sources: NFDA 2023 General Price List Study, Green Burial Council FAQ, State-by-state price list analysis, Asurgo
Step 3: Find a Provider
The Green Burial Council maintains a searchable map of certified cemeteries by state. For aquamation and human composting, availability is more limited — check directly with providers in legal states.
