Green burial is the fastest-growing segment in the funeral industry — growing roughly 15% annually as environmentally conscious families seek alternatives that return the body to the earth naturally. In California, your options range from full natural burial to aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis) and soon human composting. This guide covers what each option means, what California law permits, where to find green burial in San Diego, and how costs compare to conventional burial and cremation.
Green burial — also called natural burial — is the disposition of human remains with the smallest possible environmental footprint. The defining characteristics are: no embalming chemicals, a biodegradable burial container (or shroud), no concrete vault or grave liner, and shallow burial that allows natural decomposition to return nutrients to the soil.
Compare that to conventional burial in San Diego, which typically involves:
Green burial eliminates most of these inputs entirely. A shrouded body in a shallow grave decomposes within a few years, enriching the soil rather than delaying decomposition for decades inside a sealed casket and concrete vault.
California law is permissive for green burial. There is no state statute requiring embalming — embalming is only required if the body will be transported across state lines or if more than 24 hours pass before refrigeration is available (and even then only if specific conditions apply). In practice, green burial without embalming is legal throughout California as long as the body is kept refrigerated or promptly buried.
Key California regulatory points for green burial:
Tip on FTC protections: Funeral homes are required by federal law to give you an itemized price list before any arrangement conference. You have the right to decline embalming, to provide your own container, and to choose only the services you want. If a funeral home tells you embalming is required for a green burial, that is legally incorrect in California.
San Diego has limited but growing options for green burial. For a full comparison of all San Diego cemetery options — including conventional, veteran, and faith-based — see our detailed guide to choosing a cemetery in San Diego.
Greenwood Memorial Park in Mission Hills is one of San Diego’s most established cemeteries and operates a dedicated green burial section. Greenwood’s natural burial area allows burial without embalming, in biodegradable containers, without a concrete vault. Grave markers in the green section are typically flat, natural stone or native plantings rather than upright headstones, preserving the natural appearance of the grounds.
Greenwood is one of the few Green Burial Council–approved options in San Diego County, which means its practices have been independently verified against national green burial standards. Contact them directly for current plot availability and pricing, as green sections can have limited inventory.
Location: 4300 Imperial Ave, San Diego, CA 92113
Eternal Hills Memorial Park in Oceanside, in the northern part of San Diego County, offers natural burial options for families seeking a simpler interment. While Eternal Hills does not operate a dedicated conservation burial preserve, the cemetery accommodates green-leaning practices including burial without embalming and biodegradable containers in designated areas. Confirm the specific section and requirements directly with their planning staff before purchasing.
Location: 1999 El Camino Real, Oceanside, CA 92054
Verify before you buy: Cemetery policies on green burial vary — and can change. A cemetery that permits biodegradable containers may still require a vault liner, which partially defeats the environmental purpose. Always ask explicitly: Is a vault or grave liner required? Is embalming required? What containers are permitted? Get answers in writing before signing a purchase agreement.
Green burial is not a single method — it encompasses a spectrum from slightly greener conventional burial to full ecological disposition. Here is a breakdown of the main options available (or soon available) to San Diego families.
The most traditional form of green burial: body placed directly in the earth in a shroud or biodegradable casket, no embalming, no vault, at a depth that supports natural decomposition. Often conducted in a cemetery with a natural or conservation section. The body returns to soil within a few years. This is the standard that most Green Burial Council–certified cemeteries operate under.
A middle-ground option: burial in a biodegradable container (often a willow, bamboo, or cardboard casket) within a conventional cemetery. The cemetery may still require a vault liner, which limits the environmental benefit — but biodegradable containers still reduce the resource footprint compared to a sealed hardwood or metal casket. Many families choose this path because their preferred cemetery does not have a dedicated green section.
Conservation burial combines natural burial with active land preservation. Burial fees fund the permanent protection of the land as a nature preserve or wildlife corridor. The body is interred in a shroud with no infrastructure — no concrete, no headstone, only a GPS-recorded location. Currently, the nearest conservation burial preserve to San Diego is in the greater Southern California region; consult the Green Burial Council’s provider directory for current listings.
Aquamation — also called alkaline hydrolysis or water cremation — uses a combination of water, heat, and alkaline solution to dissolve soft tissue, leaving only bone material (which is processed into ash like cremated remains). The process uses roughly 90% less energy than flame cremation and produces no air emissions. California legalized aquamation for human remains in 2020 (AB 967). The resulting “ash” has a slightly different texture and larger volume than flame cremation ash but can be treated identically — kept, scattered, or interred. San Diego funeral homes offering aquamation include Neptune Society and select independent providers; confirm availability and current pricing directly.
Human composting — technically called natural organic reduction (NOR) — uses a vessel filled with organic material (wood chips, alfalfa, straw) to accelerate the natural decomposition of the body into nutrient-rich soil. The process takes approximately 45 days and produces roughly a cubic yard of compost that families can use in gardens or donate to conservation land. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 351 legalizing human composting in California, effective January 1, 2027. As of 2026, providers are in the process of establishing operations in the state. If you are interested in this option, note your wishes now and verify provider availability closer to the date.
One of green burial’s most compelling advantages is cost. The elimination of embalming, expensive caskets, and concrete vaults removes some of the highest-cost line items in a conventional funeral. Below is a San Diego–specific comparison. For a full breakdown of conventional funeral costs in the region, see San Diego funeral costs in 2026. For cremation cost comparisons, see San Diego cremation options and costs.
| Disposition Type | Typical San Diego Range | Key Cost Drivers |
|---|---|---|
| Full natural burial (green cemetery) | $1,000 – $4,000 | Cemetery plot, grave opening, biodegradable shroud or casket, death certificate fees |
| Hybrid green burial (conventional cemetery) | $3,500 – $7,000 | Cemetery plot, vault liner (if required), biodegradable casket, funeral home basic services |
| Aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis) | $2,000 – $4,500 | Aquamation fee, ash processing, return of remains, death certificate fees |
| Conventional burial | $7,000 – $12,000 | Funeral home services, embalming, casket, vault, cemetery plot and opening |
| Flame cremation | $1,500 – $6,000 | Cremation fee, urn, ceremony (if any), death certificate fees |
Note on pricing variability: Costs vary significantly by provider, plot location, and whether a funeral home is involved. The ranges above reflect typical San Diego market pricing as of 2026. Request itemized price lists from every provider you consider — you are legally entitled to them under the FTC Funeral Rule.
Green burial requires the same core planning as any end-of-life arrangement, with a few additional considerations specific to the method. Starting early matters — green sections can have limited inventory, and documentation of your wishes is essential to ensure your family follows through. For a full pre-planning framework, see our guide to San Diego funeral pre-planning.
Decide between full natural burial, hybrid green burial, aquamation, or — if timing aligns — human composting. Each has different environmental impact, cost, and availability in San Diego. Consider whether a specific cemetery location matters to your family, since cemetery-based green burial requires choosing a facility with a compatible green section.
Call the cemetery or funeral home and ask directly: Is a vault or liner required? What containers are permitted? Are there green-specific plot areas? Get answers and pricing in writing. If using Greenwood’s green section or another certified provider, request their Green Burial Council certification level for transparency on their standards.
Write down your specific preferences: method, cemetery, container type, embalming refusal, any ceremony preferences. Vague instructions — "I want something green" — give your family too much latitude when they are under time pressure. Specific written instructions remove ambiguity entirely.
Documents that exist but are unfindable at the time of death are useless. Tell at least two people — typically your next of kin and your executor — exactly where your burial preferences are stored. A preference for natural burial that your family cannot find within 24–48 hours of death may not be honored.
SettledWell’s secure document vault stores your green burial preferences, provider contact information, and any pre-purchase documentation alongside your other end-of-life documents. Your authorized family members can access everything instantly — no searching, no uncertainty.
The national certifying body for green burial providers, cemeteries, and funeral homes. Maintains a searchable directory of certified providers by state and region. Their certification tiers (Hybrid, Natural, Conservation) define minimum standards for each category. Visit greenburialcouncil.org to find verified San Diego–area providers.
The state agency that licenses and regulates cemeteries, funeral homes, and cremation facilities in California. File complaints, verify licenses, and access consumer guides at cemetery.ca.gov. Useful for confirming that a provider is licensed before you pre-purchase anything.
For families interested in family-directed funerals and natural burial without a funeral home intermediary, the NHFA provides guidance on California’s home funeral laws, what families can legally do themselves, and how to work with a death midwife or home funeral guide. Visit homefuneralalliance.org.
San Diego’s primary cemetery with a dedicated, Green Burial Council–certified natural burial section. Contact their pre-planning team for current plot availability, pricing, and their specific container and preparation requirements. Phone: (619) 264-3131. Address: 4300 Imperial Ave, San Diego, CA 92113.