Green Burials

By: Rion Tipton, Patrick Durkin, Jamie Fesko

Toxic Aspects of Burials

Formaldehyde (Carcinogen)

Pesticide/Herbicides

Contaminated groundwater

Coffin Materials

830,000 gallons of toxic chemicals yearly

5.4 million lbs of copper & bronze

180 million lbs of steel

1980 White House Task Force -Jeremiah Chiappellt. J.D. Ted ChiappeUi, Drinking Grandma: The Problem With Embalming, Journal of Environmental Health, Page 2 - 3, The Dangers of Formaldehyde To Public Health and the Environment, December 1, 2008.

Toxic Aspects of Cremations

Release of Greenhouse Gases

1 Cremation = 1 Car 4,800 Miles

1,000-7,800 lbs of Mercury

1990 EPA Act

*Who is being cremated here?*

-"Environmental Impact of Burial and Cremation." - Chesterfield Borough Council. Charter for the Bereaved, n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/101542166568386105/

How do you bury green?

The burial is done….

Simple & Natural

Biodegradable

No embalming fluids

No concrete/metals

No herbicides/pesticides

Recycle wood for coffins-4. Green Burial Pgh - What Is Green Burial?" Green Burial Pgh - What Is Green Burial? Green Burial, 15 Nov. 2010. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.

Theoretical Conclusion

In an attempt to correct the environmental degradation of cemeteries across the globe, we have came up with a solution to instead of burials with gravestones, we plant tree in memory of their lives. Which in turn commemorates their lives and reduces the environmental impact of burials.

Trees!● Benefits outweigh the cost

● lasting impact

● Increases environmental integrity

● Cheaper than a tombstone

● Trees represent the personality of deceased

*Can you guess this tree?*

-McPerson, Greg, James R. Simpson, Paula J. Peper, Scott E. Maco, and Qingfu Xiao. "A Systematic Quantitative Review of Urban Tree Benefits, Costs, and Assessment Methods across Cities in Different Climatic Zones." A Systematic Quantitative Review of Urban Tree Benefits, Costs, and Assessment Methods across Cities in Different Climatic Zones 103.8 (2005): 411-16. A Systematic Quantitative Review of Urban Tree Benefits, Costs, and Assessment Methods across Cities in Different Climatic Zones. Society of American Foresters, 1 Dec. 2005. Web. 30 Sept. 2015. <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1618866712000829>.

References1. "Green Burials,...Return Naturally." Green Burials,...Return Naturally. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015 <http://www.greenburials.org/>.2. "Environmental Impact of Burial and Cremation." - Chesterfield Borough Council. Charter for the Bereaved, n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.

3. Clayden, Andrew, and Katie Dixon. "Woodland Burial: Memorial Arboretum versus Natural Native Woodland?" Mortality: Promoting the Interdisciplinary Study of Death and Dying 12.3 (2007): 240-60. Taylor and Francis Online. 9 Aug. 2007. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. <http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13576270701430700>.

4. 4. Green Burial Pgh - What Is Green Burial?" Green Burial Pgh - What Is Green Burial? Green Burial, 15 Nov. 2010. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.5. Ucisik, Ahmet S., and Philip Rushbrook. "WHO IRIS: The Impact of Cemetaries on the Environment and Public Health: An Introductory Briefing / Prepared by Ahmet S. Ucisik

and Philip Rushbrook." The Impact of Cemetaries on the Environment and Public Health: An Introductory Briefing / Prepared by Ahmet S. Ucisik and Philip Rushbrook - See More At: Http://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/108132#sthash.YjYn50FG.dpuf (1998): n. pag. WHO IRIS: The Impact of Cemeteries on the Environment and Public Health: An Introductory Briefing / Prepared by Ahmet S. Ucisik and Philip Rushbrook. Copenhagen : WHO Regional Office for Europe. Web. 30 Sept. 2015. <http://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/108132>.

6. Rugg, Julie. "Defining the Place of Burial: What Makes a Cemetery a Cemetery?" Defining the Place of Burial: What Makes a Cemetery a Cemetery? 5.3 (2000): 259-75. Taylor and Francis Online. 19 Aug. 2010. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. <http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/713686011?src=recsys>.

7. Spongberg, Alison L., and Paul M. Becks. "Water, Air, and Soil Pollution." Inorganic Soil Contamination from Cemetery Leachate 117.1 (2000): 313-27. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Jan. 2000. Web. 30 Sept. 2015. <http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1005186919370>.

8. McPerson, Greg, James R. Simpson, Paula J. Peper, Scott E. Maco, and Qingfu Xiao. "A Systematic Quantitative Review of Urban Tree Benefits, Costs, and Assessment Methods across Cities in Different Climatic Zones." A Systematic Quantitative Review of Urban Tree Benefits, Costs, and Assessment Methods across Cities in Different Climatic Zones 103.8 (2005): 411-16. A Systematic Quantitative Review of Urban Tree Benefits, Costs, and Assessment Methods across Cities in Different Climatic Zones. Society of American Foresters, 1 Dec. 2005. Web. 30 Sept. 2015. <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1618866712000829>.

9. Jeremiah Chiappellt. J.D. Ted ChiappeUi, Drinking Grandma: The Problem With Embalming, Journal of Environmental Health, Page 2 - 3, The Dangers of Formaldehyde To Public Health and the Environment, December 1, 2008.

Who is this?