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Environmental tips: Stay eco-friendly even after your death
NOBODY really wants to think about what will happen to their body once they have died, and it can be easy to believe that seeing as you are no longer here, your green credentials cease to matter.
NOBODY really wants to think about what will happen to their body once they have died, and it can be easy to believe that seeing as you are no longer here, your green credentials cease to matter.But what happens to your body after death can have an environmental impact.
Cremations require coffins to be heated to extremely high temperatures, and so use large amounts of energy and, therefore, fossil fuels.
There have also been concerns about mercury pollution from dental fillings.
To combat this, there is a growing trend for green burials.
In Peterborough these can take place at Fletton cemetery. There, in 1998, a green burial area was established as more residents were requesting environmentally-friendly interments.
Since it was established, there have been an average of eight burials a year, and in total there are 453 plots.
At the site, bodies are interred in biodegradable coffins, the majority of which are made from willow, and then placed within the designated area.
Once the funeral has taken place, and the graves filled in, no marker is left and, eventually, when an area of the plot has been used, seeds and trees are planted to turn it into a wildlife haven.
Manager of Peterborough crematorium Danny Corr said: "I think the idea for somebody choosing this type of burial is they're creating a wildlife habitat for birds and animals.
"People who are buried there are leaving a legacy of benefit to the environment."
It is quite common for people who have green burials to also have the service in this area.
All funeral directors can source biodegradable coffins, either in willow, cardboard or wood.
Another aspect of green burials that might appeal to some people is that the fees payable to the city council are less than for a traditional burial.
It costs 520 for what's called the "exclusive right of burial" in a green grave, whereas for a traditional burial, this fee is 685. Both types of burials also have an interment fee of 453.
The reason the green burial is slightly cheaper is that there is no fee for erecting a memorial, as green graves are left unmarked.
Relatives can put a bronze plaque on a wall near to the burial area, but eventually, once the trees and flowers have grown, it becomes impossible to identify a specific grave plot.
Because of this, it is important to give some thought to how your relatives may deal with a green burial.
Danny said: "Traditionally people always like to go back to the grave and place flowers there. The people left behind must understand that isn't the case with a green burial. It would defeat the object to go back and mark the grave or plant something that's not part of the overall scheme.
"Most people respect the wishes of the deceased and won't go back to it. That's something that people have to realise, they haven't got a marked grave."
For more information, call the bereavement services team on 01733 262639 or e-mail crematorium@ peterborough.gov.uk
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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