FAQs

LA funeral director, author, and Green Burial Advocate Caitlyn Doughty has said, “[From an environmental standpoint,] Green Burial is like riding a bike; alkaline hydrolysis [wet cremation] is like driving a Prius; fire cremation is like driving a Ford F-150; and conventional burial is like driving a Hummer.” In addition to the use of non-sustainable fossil fuel, fire cremation quickly releases heavy metals and toxic chemicals that may be in the body. While these substances are released into the soil as the body decomposes in an earth burial, they do so more slowly. In addition, the body adds nutrients to the soil that are otherwise burned in a cremation. The cremated remains contain almost no nutrients and should only be used in gardening if they have organic matter added.