Information compiled by the County Durham Greener Funerals
Partnership
' I can think of no better way of celebrating the continuity
of creation than becoming part of a tree in a piece of countryside destined to
become a woodland, full of wild flowers, wildlife and bird song forever and
ever, Amen'
(David Bellamy)
Introduction
This information is aimed at anyone with an interest in
looking after the planet for future generations.
Concerns about issues such as
pollution and global warming mean that more and more people are trying to live
their lives in an environmentally friendly way.
As a result there is now a
growing interest in the environmental impacts of funerals.
Funerals - Some Environmental Issues
Coffins
There are two
ways in which the use of coffins can have an environmental impact.
Firstly the
impact of the manufacturing process and secondly the impacts associated with
the burial or cremation of the coffin.
In particular, solvents, glues and
finishes have the potential to cause a negative impact.
From an environmental point of view it is important to consider not only the
material used to make the coffin, but also the energy use and pollution of the
manufacturing process.
Improved legislation in recent years (including the
Environmental Protection Act 1990) has resulted in a significant reduction in
the environmental impacts of coffins manufactured and sold in the UK.
A wide range of coffins is now available, either through funeral directors or
direct from suppliers (many of which now have information available on the
Internet).
Wooden Coffins
Wooden coffins can be made from solid wood (e.g.
oak
or pine) or from chipboard.
Chipboard is often made from recycled wood, bonded
with a special resin with a low formaldehyde content.
All the substances used in the manufacture of coffins in the UK must be
compliant with the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Some coffin manufacturers are now seeking accreditation with the FSC (Forestry
Stewardship Council) The FSC mark demonstrates that the wood has come from
sustainably managed forests.
Cardboard Coffins
Several different types of cardboard coffin are
available.
Most come ready assembled, although flatpack options are available.
Cardboard is readily biodegradeable and is often made out of recycled materials
and can therefore be 'environmentally friendly'.
There has been some debate over the use of cardboard coffins in crematoria -
mainly focussing on the properties of cardboard at high temperatures.
However,
almost all crematoria in the UK now accept them (including two in County
Durham).
Recent research has indicated that the amount of energy required for a
cremation is less than when a wooden coffin is used (Source: Natural Death
Centre).
Other Coffins
Other types of 'environmentally friendly' coffins
currently available include; woven willow coffins (with a biodegradeable
lining), bamboo coffins and fully biodegradeable papiermache coffins.
Wool
shrouds are also available as an alternative to coffins.
The following text has been submitted by a supplier of bamboo coffins (with
permission from the Natural Death Centre):
'Our Bamboo coffins are fully biodegradable and made of 100% natural materials
including a waterproof cotton liner and headrest.
The late Nicholas Albery,
Founder of the UK's Natural Death Centre, was laid to rest in one in June,
2001.
The coffins are EPA (Environmental Protection Act) accredited and
appropriate for both burials and cremations.'
Ask your funeral director about the environmental impacts of various coffins,
or ask the manufacturers directly.
The Natural Death Centre can supply details
of a wide range of 'environmentally-friendly coffins' (see contact details at
the end of this leaflet).
Embalming
Questions are sometimes raised over the environmental
impacts of embalming.
Embalming is the process of preserving a body between the time of death and the
funeral.
For relatives who intend to view the deceased during this period,
embalming may bring comfort and longer term psychological benefits.
Embalming involves the injection of formaldehyde (or a similar liquid) into the
blood vessels of the body.
The blood and other body fluids are drained.
The
embalming fluid contains dyes which are intended to recreate a natural colour.
There is conflicting evidence as to whether embalming has any significant
negative impacts on the environment.
The main concern is the potential impact
of the embalming fluid on the soil following burial.
The procedure should not
be carried out without the consent of the person arranging the funeral, and is
not permitted if a person has died of a notifiable disease.
Which is Greener - Burial or Cremation?
This is a complicated
question to answer.
The exact nature of the environmental impacts will vary
depending on a variety of factors - some of which are outlined in the rest of
this leaflet.
Burial - Some Environmental Issues
Use of Land
In some
parts of the UK (and some parts of County Durham) there is a crisis facing
those providing burial services.
Burial space is dwindling in existing
cemeteries, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for local authorities to
find suitable new burial sites (especially in urban areas).
Any significantly increased demand for burial sites will require a review of
current burial land-use policies, rules and conventions.
Family Centred Funerals
Burial services offer several opportunities
for family members to be involved in the funeral if they wish to do so.
These
could include; choosing or even constructing the coffin, decorating the coffin,
acting as coffin-bearers, helping to back-fill the grave, and planning or
leading the funeral service.
However, it is important for any family member
wishing to be involved in this way to discuss the arrangements fully with their
funeral director (if they wish to use one), local authority cemetery staff, and
those facilitating the service (where appropriate).
Woodland Burial
Graves in 'woodland burial' sites are often marked
with a tree or shrub, rather than the traditional headstone.
There is a growing
interest in this type of burial, which moves away from the traditional idea of
a neat and tidy cemetery towards a more wildlife-friendly environment.
Such
sites, planted with native trees and shrubs, (or managed as meadowland) offer
considerable opportunities to enhance local wildlife and offer an appropriate
resting place for people with a particular love of nature.
There are many woodland burial sites in the UK.
Most are privately owned,
although an increasing number of public burial authorities are now seeking to
establish similar sites.
It is common for both private and public woodland
burial sites to have rules and criteria for burial.
These will vary from site
to site, but may include;
The deceased should not be embalmed
The coffin should be constructed of an easily decomposable material
Headstones are not allowed
There is currently one woodland burial site (privately owned) operating in
County Durham:
Seven Penny Meadows (Medomsley Village, near Consett)
Tel: 01207 561 229
Other woodland burial sites nearby include:
Carlisle (Tel: 01228 625310) - Carlisle City Council
Hexham, St Andrew's Cemetery (Tel: 01434 609575) - Hexham Town Council
Acklam and Linthorpe (Middlesbrough) (Tel: 01642 817725) - Middlesbrough City
Council
Cremation - Some Environmental Issues
Air Pollution
Crematoria are subject to strict rules to ensure that the minimum amount of air
pollution is produced.
These regulations are enforced and monitored by the
Environment Agency.
Issues include greenhouse gas emissions, Dioxins and
airborne mercury.
Energy Use
Most crematoria are fuelled by gas (a fossil fuel).
Ironically, the stricter emissions controls in recent years have resulted in a
significant increase in the amount of energy needed to operate incinerators.
There is some evidence to suggest that cardboard coffins use less energy in
crematoria than wooden coffins.
Burial of Ashes
If ashes are to be buried rather than scattered, an
environmentally friendly option is to use a biodegradeable casket or container.
What's Currently on Offer in County Durham?
Funeral Directors
Services
Funeral directors should be able to provide information about
the environmental impacts of their products and services.
Many are now offering
a range of coffins (including cardboard and other 'alternative' materials).
Some funeral directors in County Durham have a Health and Safety policy which
does not permit staff to carry cardboard coffins.
In such cases a trolley is
used to transport the coffin.
This may also be the case for other alternatives
to the 'traditional' wooden coffin.
Woodland Burials and Tree Planting
Most
T
local
authorities which manage cemeteries
will do their best to respond to
wishes to have a memorial tree planted near to the place of burial (usually
within the cemetery, but not always right next to the grave).
The combination
of a 'traditional' burial, and the planting of a native species memorial tree
(or trees) is a very simple way of benefiting the environment and creating a
living memorial.
The nearest existing active woodland burial sites to County Durham are at;
Acklam cemetery, and Linthorpe (Middlesbrough), Mowthorpe Garden of Rest,
Terrington (near York), Carlisle Cemetery, Thornton Cemetery (Bradford), and
Hexham Cemetery.
It is possible for people from outside the local area to be
buried in one of these sites (although the charges are usually higher than for
local people).
How can I ensure that my funeral is environmentally
friendly?
Advance Funeral Wishes
One of the best ways to ensure
that your funeral will be environmentally friendly is to write down your
preferences well in advance (in the same way as you would when making a will).
This may sound like a strange thing to do, but having written preferences will
really help relatives to arrange the type of funeral which you want to have.
Concerns about green funerals appearing 'cheap' to other relatives can
sometimes mean that a more 'traditional' funeral is arranged unless there are
clearly written advance wishes.
Your preferences could be included as part of a will, or written down in a
separate letter or form (often referred to as 'Advance Funeral Wishes').
Funeral wishes (whether in a will, letter or form) are not legally binding on
friends and relatives.
It is therefore important that the people who will be
responsible for your funeral arrangements are aware of your particular wishes.
Most people will, when the occasion arises, follow your wishes where at all
possible.
Details of 'Advance Funeral Wishes' and forms are available from the
Natural Death Centre
(
contact details below
) and from some funeral directors.
What's being planned in County Durham and Darlington?
Several local
authorities in County Durham are currently developing plans for offering
woodland burials in their cemeteries.
These include:
Durham City (South Road Cemetery)
A site has been identified for woodland burials, but further work is still
needed.
The site is not likely to be open for another few years.
Contact:
Durham City Council
Tel: 0191 384 8677
Chester-le-Street (Pelton Cemetery)
Chester-le-Street District Council are currently in process of acquiring extra
land at Pelton Cemetery.
Once this process is complete, the council hope to set
aside part of the new area for woodland burials.
Contact:
Chester-le-Street District Council
Tel: 0191 389 0749
Seaham Cemetery
Seaham Town Council are developing a new cemetery at Lord Byrons Walk in the
North of Seaham.
The new cemetery is due to open in August 2005.
A section of
the cemetery is being designed as a green burial area within a woodland
setting.
Contact:
Mike Preston (Parks Manager)
Seaham Town Council
Princess Road Cemetery
Princess Road
Seaham
County Durham
SR7 7TD
Tel: 0191 581 2943
A number of other local authorities will also consider green burial requests.
These include:
Derwentside District Council
Derwentside District Council will do their best to accommodate any green burial
requests (e.g.
memorial tree planting).
They are also investigating the
feasibility of establishing a woodland burial site in the district.
Contact:
Tel: 01207 580 218 000
Wear Valley District Council
Wear Valley District Council will allow green burials subject to full prior
consultation with the cemetery superintendent.
Contact:
Director of Community Services
Wear Valley District Council
Civic Centre
Crook
County Durham
DL15 9ES
Tel: 01388 765 555)
Ferryhill Town Council
Any request for a green burial will be considered on its merits.
Contact:
Executive Officer
Ferryhill Town Council
Town Hall
Ferryhill
County Durham
DL11 8JL
Darlington Borough Council
Darlington Borough Council have no green burial facilities at present, but
would like to address this situation within the next five years.
Contact:
Public Protection Division
Darlington Borough Council
Town Hall
Darlington
DL1 5QT
Tel: 01325 388 576
Sources of further help and information
The Natural
Death Centre
A charity providing information on Woodland burial sites,
cardboard coffins, Advance Funeral Wishes forms etc.
They also publish the
comprehensive 'New Natural Death Handbook' which is available from libraries or
directly from the Natural Death Centre (price �12.99 inc.
p&p).
Contact:
Natural Death Centre
6 Blackstock Mews
Blackstock Road
London
N4 2BT
Tel: 020 7359 8391
There is also an excellent web site at
www.naturaldeath.org.uk
Association of Burial Authorities Helpline
This is a national helpline for members of the public.
The Association of Burial Authorities
155 Upper Street
London
N1 1RA
Tel: 020 7288 2522
National Association of Funeral Directors
National Association of Funeral Directors
618 Warwick Road
Solihull
West Midlands
B91 1AA
Tel: 0121 711 1343
Their website is at
http://www.nafd.org.uk/
and they can be contacted by e-mail at
[email protected]
Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF)
SAIF Business Centre
3 Bullfields
Sawbridgeworth
Herts
CM21 9BD
Tel: 01279 726 777
The Funeral Ombudsman Scheme
The Funeral Ombudsman Scheme
26 - 28 Bedford Row
London
WC1R 4HE
Tel: 020 7430 1112
The Funeral Standards Council
The Funeral Standards Council
30 North Road
Cardiff
CF1 3DY
Tel: 02920 382 046
Local Burial Authorities
:
District councils in County Durham which manage cemeteries are:
Chester-le-Street District Council (Tel: 0191 387 1919)
Derwentside District Council (Tel: 01207 580 580)
Durham City Council
(Tel: 0191 386 6111)
Teesdale District Council (Tel: 01833 637890)
Wear Valley District Council (Tel: 01388 765 555)
There are two crematoria in County Durham:
Durham City (South Road Cremetorium, South Road, Durham City) (Tel: 0191 384
8677)
Dipton (Mountsett Crematorium, Ewehurst Road, Dipton, Stanley ) (Tel: 01207 570
255)
There is also a crematorium in Darlington (West Cemetery, Carmel Road North,
Darlington) (Tel: 01325 466646)
In Easington District and Sedgefield Borough*, cemeteries are managed by Town
and Parish Councils:
Murton
Tel: 0191 526 1845
Seaham
Tel: 0191 581 2943
Horden
Tel: 0191 518 0385
Peterlee
Tel: 0191 586 2491
Aycliffe
Tel: 01325 300 700
Shildon
Tel: 01388 772 563
Spennymoor
Tel: 01388 815 276
Ferryhill
Tel: 01740 652 157
Sedgefield
Tel: 01740 621273
* The cemetery at Chilton is operated by Sedgefield Borough Council (Tel: 01388
816 166)
This leaflet has been developed and produced by the County Durham Greener
Funerals Partnership on behalf of the County Durham
T
Local Agenda 21
Partnership
.
Every effort is made to keep this web page up-to-date.
However, if you find any
information which is incorrect (or if you would like to suggest additional
information which you think should be included) please contact us at the
address below:
Sustainability Section
Environment
Durham County Council
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5UQ
Tel: 0191 383 3361
Email:
[email protected]