Accidents Happen: A Guide to Children's Emergencies

If you live your life concerned with the state of the environment, then you might want your body to be treated in a green way when you die.

The good news is that there are many different ways that your body can be disposed of without permanent harm to the earth.

Some suggestions include:

Donate Your Organs

Once your physical body has died, you no longer need any of your organs. However, there are many other people who are in desperate need of them! The first green option you have, if you pass in certain ways, is to donate your organs for transplantation.

If you are open to the idea of allowing your body to be recycled by organ donation, then let your family know of your choice and ask them to please follow your wishes.

Additionally, you should register as an organ donor with your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) registry. You can obtain the necessary form at any local DMV office, or online. Registering with the donor registry is very important, because some of the best candidates for organ donation come from motor vehicle accidents. Being a registered organ donor will allow the hospital to harvest your organs in a case where they are unable to reach your family before it is too late.

Cremation

Since cemeteries are forever, and they take up a lot of land space, one way to help save the earth is to opt for cremation instead of traditional burial. Once your body has been cremated, then you can ask to have your ashes scattered in the sea or at a favorite vacation spot.

Recyclable Casket Options

If you are not comfortable with the idea of cremation, then you might prefer to be buried in a less traditional casket option. Some natural casket options on the market today include:

• cardboard 
• solid wood
• recycled paper

Additionally, the Jewish faith has specific traditions around burial. Because they believe that the body should return to the earth in a natural process, they use a simple casket made from solid wood. The caskets are specifically made to exclude things such as metal hinges. This makes Jewish caskets a green funeral option for people of any faith.

Conclusion

Death is a natural consequence of having been able to live your life. While it is an uncomfortable topic to speak about, it is vital that you share your post-death wishes with your family. If you want to learn more about green burial options, then you can speak with any local funeral director (such as one from Beeman-Patchak Funeral Home). They will be happy to explain all of the green funeral options to you.