Ludlow commission approves cemetery-wide green burials beginning July 1

The Town of Ludlow Board of Cemetery Commissioners voted unanimously on May 27 to allow green burials cemetery-wide within purchased lots, effective July 1, 2026, pending guidelines from the town manager and the sexton. Bruce Schmidt moved the action and George Tucker Jr. seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

Cemetery Sexton Doug Sheehan explained that green burials typically use a cloth shroud or a wicker basket rather than a traditional casket, and that burial depth is shallower — about 3½ to 4 feet compared with roughly 5 to 6 feet for a casket burial. He said funeral personnel or family members generally handle the body for a green burial, and cemetery personnel would remain “in the background” to provide support such as digging graves and assisting as needed. Penny Wu noted there is interest but also controversy and that practical questions remain about who handles bodies and how winter storage would be managed.

The board’s motion approves green burials "based on guidelines to be established by the town manager and sexton." The commission discussed storage safeguards if bodies are kept in the tomb over winter, including placing a tray under the pine box to prevent leakage. The motion directs staff to prepare the specific operational guidelines before July 1.

The board did not adopt a site-specific restriction; the approval permits green burials within already purchased lots across the cemetery, subject to the forthcoming guidelines.