Is Natural Burial Legal in Maryland

12. If a monument is acquired by someone other than the cemetery, can the cemetery devote less care to it than the monuments it sold directly? No, a cemetery is prohibited from indicating, implicating or maintaining less a monument or the burial site where the monument is attached if the monument was occupied by someone other than the cemetery. Interest in these reduced, eco-friendly options has grown as people look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Nearly 54 percent of Americans are considering a green burial and 72 percent of cemeteries report increased demand, according to a survey released a few years ago by the National Funeral Directors Association. Yes, there are currently hybrid cemeteries with natural/green burial sections, and others are considering this possibility. Please see our Resources page for contact information. We will add this as more cemeteries become available. In addition, there are a number of natural burial sites in the surrounding states. Conservation cemeteries embody the highest level of environmental responsibility. They consist of land intended for natural and limited burials to preserve the land forever. A green burial in the state of Maryland includes eco-friendly options to meet the needs of a family requesting eco-friendly products, services, or funerals. 2. How can a county or municipal agency fund the repair, maintenance or maintenance of a grave? To preserve and maintain a burial site or repair or restore fences, graves, monuments or other structures in a burial site, a county or municipality may: Since 2015, Maryland requires that all bodies be buried in an established cemetery or family grave.

Family property must be located in a cemetery or approved by local ordinances; No one may be buried in his home or on land not intended for such use. This is because there are other considerations in burial, including water pollution, land use, etc. Maryland does not require embalming or severe coating, so a natural burial is legal as long as it is done in a proper location. The Council has certified more than 200 natural burial sites in the United States. Operators at certified sites do not cut grass or use chemicals to control weeds, and they require graves to be dug and filled with only hand tools, according to the council`s website. Hybrid cemeteries are conventional cemeteries that have reserved part of their land for natural burials. There are few natural burial sites in central Maryland, and there don`t appear to be exclusively for natural burials, according to a list of green graves across the country from Funeral Resources Education & Advocacy of New Hampshire, a national nonprofit group, and Daniel Morhaim, Shelley`s husband and former state delegate and physician who has written about end-of-life options. Cremation has been considered the conventional alternative to burial for about fifty years, but even this method poses some problems for environmentally conscious people.

Cremation emits a large amount of CO2 and sulfur dioxide. According to the Green Burial Association of Maryland, crematoriums use enough fossil fuels to be equivalent to a 4,800-mile car ride. In addition, crematorium workers are exposed to ovens and vapors and often end up with lung problems. While cremation helps in some ways, it harms others. According to the Green Burial Council, a green or natural burial has several benefits for people and the environment: it reduces carbon emissions, conserves natural resources, preserves habitats, and protects workers` health. The council “sets standards for funeral homes and cemeteries wishing to provide environmentally responsible end-of-life care, as well as for the manufacture of environmentally friendly funeral products and accessories.” 1. Should the remains be buried like a corpse? The remains can be buried in a funeral hall or in a mausoleum niche. The remains can also be scattered.

1. Does Maryland law require the use of a vault for funerals? No, Maryland law does not require the use of a vault for burial. However, since the use of a vault helps maintain the integrity of the burial site by delaying the sinking, a cemetery has the option of requiring the use of a burial vault. Most Maryland cemeteries, without distinct religious traditions, require an external burial vault or container. People were buried this way until recently. Many families are moved to participate and experience the healing that comes from the natural return of their loved ones to Earth. Until recently, there were only two standard options for your mortal remains after your death: cremation or burial. Those who choose to participate in donations to scientific programs are cremated and returned to their families, who can then bury the ashes at their discretion. 4.

Does the State of Maryland require that consumers who own cemetery properties be notified when the cemetery is sold to another owner? If the consumer also purchased goods or services for the need, Maryland law requires that any purchaser of a funeral contract be notified prior to the need of the buyer`s options under state law with respect to the pre-use contract if a seller of consumer goods sells his business, declares bankruptcy or ceases operations. 2. What is a double-depth burial? A double-depth burial is the use of a burial hall for the burial of two people. The tomb is dug deeper than a normal tomb to accommodate the placement of a vault and coffin on another vault and coffin. Often cemeteries have special sections and special vaults for double-depth burials. The working method and practice is that the top of the vault (single or double depth) should be 18 to 24 inches below the surface of the earth. 10. If I move more than 75 miles from the cemetery where I have burial rights, can I participate in an exchange program at a new, well-located cemetery? Some, but not all, cemeteries offer a funeral benefit exchange program when a person travels more than 75 miles. A request regarding the availability of this option should be made by a consumer at the time of negotiations on the purchase of a funeral home.

BALTIMORE — A vast field in the Windsor Mill area of Maryland could soon become Baltimore County`s first natural cemetery, an increasingly popular option for loved ones to bury their dead without traditional embalming, headstones or concrete vaults. 1. What action can a county or local authority take with respect to a burial site in need of repair or maintenance? Any corporation of the county or municipality that has a burial site in need of repair or maintenance in its territory may, at the request of the owner or with the permission of the owner of the grave, maintain and maintain the grave for the owner. 4. Does the Cemeteries Supervisory Board regulate reburial and reburial? No, the requirements for search and reburial can be found in Section 10-403, Criminal Law Articles, Maryland Annotated Code. Authorization from the district attorney of the county where the cemetery is located is required and a funeral transit permit must be obtained from the Department of Health. Burying coral reefs is more difficult because most coral reefs are now endangered. There are a handful of organizations, such as the Reef Ball Foundation, that specialize in placing cremated remains into concrete coral reef balls, which are then placed in the reef as part of the ecosystem.