Presenter outlines green-burial options, regulators and local hurdles

Peter Quakenbush, a presenter, told the Kalamazoo City Environmental and Conservation Commission about green burial options, certification and regulatory constraints, saying the approach centers on "no embalming" and biodegradable containers.

Quakenbush described three scales of green burial: body preparation (no embalming), biodegradable containers instead of metal caskets or vaults, and cemetery-level choices ranging from a single green section inside an existing cemetery to a fully conserved natural burial ground. He said conservation burial — a model that combines land conservation with burial use — has no certified sites yet in Michigan, with the nearest certified examples in Illinois and Ohio.

Why it matters: Commission members said the topic has local planning and public-interest implications because cemetery rules, maintenance obligations and zoning regulate whether a green-burial site can open. Quakenbush warned that even when a site is desirable, local ordinances and neighbor opposition can block or complicate projects.

Quakenbush summarized technical details used in green-burial practice. He said direct burials commonly omit embalming and use biodegradable containers such as pine boxes, wicker caskets, or shrouds, and that vaults are typically not used in green burials. He explained that burial depth is commonly 3–4 feet in green practice to keep remains in a biologically active soil layer but noted some local regulations may still require deeper graves. He also said funeral homes can perform direct burials without special certification and that some religious burial traditions align with green practices.

Commissioners asked about costs, environmental risk and regulation. On cost, Quakenbush said cemetery plot fees are often similar, while savings can appear in not purchasing vaults and in simpler funerary services; funeral-home handling for a green direct burial is frequently cheaper but varies. On environmental concerns, he noted embalming fluids are toxic and leach into soil over time; avoiding embalming reduces that input. He also addressed pharmaceuticals and microplastics in human remains as a marginal source of contamination and said lower burial density and natural breakdown mitigate local risk.

Quakenbush described a recent effort in Newaygo County as an example of local obstacles: he said he had pursued a site where local zoning initially allowed cemeteries, then neighbors opposed a cemetery, the township banned cemeteries, and the resulting zoning changes led to litigation. That history, he said, shows how local ordinances can make siting a green cemetery difficult even when state law does not prohibit green burial.

Commission members asked about regulation and certification. Quakenbush said Michigan has a State Cemetery Commission that regulates non-church cemeteries, and that the Green Burial Council is the principal North American certifier for green-burial cemeteries and funeral providers. He recommended the Council and miburial.com as resources for residents and providers.

A member asked whether conservation burial sites operate as nature preserves; Quakenbush confirmed they can and that they typically maintain trails, native plantings and lower-density plots rather than standard lawn-and-headstone maintenance.

The presentation ended with an offer from Quakenbush to share slides for the commission to review and possible follow-up if the commission seeks more detail or wants to consider local policy implications.

Ending: Commissioners thanked Quakenbush and requested the slides. Justin, a city staff member present at the meeting, agreed to circulate the materials to the commission for follow-up.