MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. – Kirby’s Tucker Memorial Cemetery, located at 920 Tucker Cemetery Road, has earned certification by the Green Burial Council. The cemetery is the first in Arkansas to achieve the Green Burial Council certification which is awarded to funeral providers demonstrating compliance to the established Green Burial Council standards.
Green burial provides minimal environmental impact and aids in the conservation of natural resources. The simplified interment process reduces carbon emissions and helps preserve the surrounding habitat.
The Green Burial Council is a nationally-recognized, non-profit organization standardizing practices for environmentally sustainable death care through education and certification. Council standards are designed to create sustainable practices in the funeral industry and to preserve and steward land through burial.
Green burial offers an alternative to traditional burial and cremation using non-toxic and biodegradable materials for caskets, shrouds, and urns.
Natural, non-invasive means are used to prepare for green burial. If embalming is necessary or requested, essential oils are used in the process.
There are no vaults or liners used in the eco-friendly interment process. Memorial markers, made from flat native Arkansas limestone, are integrated into the landscape. Over time, the grave blends seamlessly into the surrounding countryside.
“It is important for funeral providers to offer green burial alternatives. Kirby & Family is proud to be the first in our area to provide these options for families. Leaving a legacy that promotes environmental preservation and helps maintain the surrounding habitat is very important to those who are eco-conscious. Green burials are also encouraged by many religious communities. The certification of Kirby’s Tucker Memorial Cemetery allows us to honor the wishes of those who prefer an eco-friendly alternative, as we continue to serve families with traditional burials and cremations,” explains Jason Kirby, President of Kirby & Family Funeral and Cremation Services which operates the cemetery facilities.
Kirby’s Tucker Memorial Cemetery is a hybrid facility offering traditional burials, mausoleum entombment and green burial options. The one-acre section of Kirby’s Tucker Memorial Cemetery dedicated specifically for green burials is designed to accommodate approximately 2,100 interments with room for future expansion.
Due to the differences in burial processes, standards require separation of the green burial section from the traditional cemetery grounds and mausoleum complex. Because vaults, liners, and traditional caskets are not utilized, green burial is at a depth of approximately 3.5 feet. The container used for green burial is minimal, such as a cotton shroud, cardboard coffer, or plain wooden casket. The ground is allowed to return to its native state following interment.
Planning for a green burial is coordinated in much the same way as a traditional burial. Depending upon the service options selected, costs for a green burial are generally less than a traditional burial.
Kirby & Family has established a website, GreenBurialArkansas.com, to address questions related to green burial and to provide additional resources on the topic. The public may also submit inquiries online for more information about green burial.
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