
Revealing the Dos + Don’ts of Eco-Friendly Green Burials in Texas
Talking about the end of one's life can be uncomfortable, but it is inevitable. Many options are available in Texas for your remains. However, some newer options are not currently a legal practice for after-death.
What is a Green Burial + What Texas Law States
Green burial allows the body to be placed in a shroud or a biodegradable container and placed in the earth without a vault. Allowing the body to decompose directly into the soil. However, Texas law states if the body is held for more than 24 hours it must be embalmed and placed into a container.
Green Burial is allowed in Texas with some stipulations. It also depends on the cemetery if they allow a green burial. Currently, there are only a few places in Texas that offer green burials and are located in bigger cities like Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston.
On this same note, it is legal in Texas to be buried on your own property. However, it must be allowed in the country you live in, and yes there is a long list of stipulations.
Is Human Composting Legal in Texas?
Human composting or terramation is when the body is placed in a container with straw, wood chips, and alfalfa. The microbes in the plants will start to break down the body. The process can take 5-7 weeks. The soil is screened and then cured for another 3-5 weeks. Once done the soil can be returned to the family or the terramation center will return them to the earth.
Human composting is not legal in Texas, so if this is your wish, you will need to look in other states that do allow human composting.
What is Water Cremation + Is it Legal in Texas?
Water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis is where the body is placed in a water cremation unit. Water, heat, and alkaline are used to break down the remains. It takes about 4-6 hours, and bones are the only remains left. As with regular cremation, the bones are processed and then returned to loved ones.
Currently, water cremation is not legal in Texas. However, a bill was filed in 2022 to legalize this process but it never went anywhere. This form of burial is legal in 27 states, the closest to Texas is Oklahoma.
Many options are available to you after you die, however, if you are looking for a more green option, you can find it in Texas, it just may be a bit more difficult than your basic burial and/or cremation.
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