Cemetery district ponders green burials

The Point Roberts Cemetery District discussed green burials during its regular monthly meeting on January 26 at the community center on Gulf Road. Ten people attended, far more than usual. When commissioner Pauli DeHaan arrived a few minutes late, she joked, “Am I in the right meeting?” Commissioner Stephen Falk noted that the 30-minute meeting was “the longest meeting we have on record.”

Much of the discussion centered on a proposal by Point Roberts resident Gina Ball, who brought in a prototype of a green burial liner. Unlike the current concrete grave liners, Ball’s model is made of untreated spruce wood and fully biodegradable materials. She explained that the prototype cost about $118 to build and is meant to mirror the size and structure of the cement liner currently used, but without concrete or toxic materials.

Ball described green burial as a process where the body is not embalmed, is placed in a biodegradable shroud or pine box, and laid into the earth without concrete or metal. A small layer of organic material such as hay or wood chips would be used, allowing the body and container to return naturally to the soil. She told commissioners, “The whole point is that it won’t be there after some amount of time.”

Commissioners discussed the need to research Washington State regulations and to determine whether the cemetery’s soil conditions could safely support a fully green burial system. Concerns included ground stability, safety when digging future graves, and how long biodegradable materials would take to break down.

Ball asked that the idea be placed on a future agenda for formal consideration. The board agreed and made a motion to research green burial requirements, including state rules and how similar cemeteries handle them, before developing any policy. The motion passed, with commissioners saying the issue could be revisited in the coming months.

Commissioners also clarified eligibility rules for burial in Point Roberts. People must purchase a plot while they are living in Point Roberts in order to be buried there. Those who buy a plot and later move away remain eligible, but people who leave and later decide they want to be buried here cannot do so unless they already own a plot.

Burial costs were reviewed during the meeting. Standard burial plots measuring 9 by 10 feet or 10 by 10 feet cost $500, while smaller 8 by 10 feet plots cost $400. Cremation plots, which measure 2 by 2 feet, cost $150. The charge for a full burial is $2,000, which includes the concrete grave liner currently in use. Burial of cremated remains costs $100. These fees are separate from any charges made by funeral homes.

To reserve a plot, residents contact one of the cemetery commissioners, view available sites in person, and pay at the time of purchase. There are no annual maintenance fees.

No final decision on green burials was made. Falk said, “We need to make a policy on whether to accept green burials or not,” and the board agreed to continue researching the issue before taking formal action.