Is a Casket Required for Cremation to Take Place?

A casket is not required for a cremation to take place. In most states, all that is required is an alternative container which can be constructed of wood or fiberboard/cardboard, and is cremated along with the deceased.

Is Embalming Required for Cremation?

Absolutely not. Public health law states that any human remains held 24 hours beyond death, and not yet cremated or interred at a cemetery, shall be either embalmed, or kept under refrigeration. Most reputable funeral establishments and crematories have on-site refrigeration.

Can a Cremation Be Witnessed by the Family?

Yes, in most situations, the cremation provider will permit family members to be in attendance when the body is placed into the cremation chamber. A few religious groups include this as an integral part of their funeral practice.

Are There Any Religions That Do Not Approve of Cremation?

Most major religions accept cremation, except Islam and Orthodox Judaism. Most Christian denominations allow cremation. The Catholic Church approves cremation but encourages interment in a cemetery. Buddhists favor cremation, and Hindus consider it the orthodox method of disposition.

Can More than One Cremation Be Performed at Once?

No. It is both practically impossible and illegal. Most modern cremation chambers are not large enough to house more than one adult at a time.

What Usually Happens after the Cremation Is Finished?

After cremation, bone fragments and non-consumed metal items are collected and separated from the remains using inspection and magnets. Bone fragments are processed into a uniform size and sealed in a plastic bag, then placed in a container or urn chosen by the family.

What Do Cremated Remains Look Like?

Cremated remains are a powdery and granular mix in shades of gray to white. An average adult’s remains typically weigh between four to eight pounds.

Are All Cremated Remains Returned to the Family?

Yes, except for microscopic particles that cannot be retrieved, all cremated remains are returned to the family.

Are Urns Required to Collect the Cremated Remains?

No law requires an urn, but cremated remains must be kept in a container. A basic urn is included in the cremation package, with options available for upgrades.

What Options Are Available with the Cremated Remains?

In California, cremated remains may be kept at home, scattered at sea (500+ yards from shore), scattered on private property with permission, or interred in a cemetery. They can also be divided into keepsake urns or jewelry for memorialization.

How Can You Be Certain That All Remains Are Kept Separate, and You Receive the Correct Remains?

Reliable cremation providers have strict policies to ensure accuracy and prevent errors. It's your right to ask about the procedures used for identification, cremation, processing, and packaging of remains.

6 Best Green Burial Providers Serving Newport Beach

Oct 12

Written By lindsay farrington

If you are looking for a green burial in Newport Beach, the most practical path is to work with a funeral home that arranges natural burial and then choose a certified green cemetery section within driving distance. We are not aware of a dedicated green burial ground inside Newport Beach city limits, so most local families rely on a provider that serves Newport Beach and coordinates with natural burial cemeteries across Southern California. This guide covers six green burial providers that Newport Beach families can use, what each one offers, and how to choose with confidence.

Green burial is a simple idea: the body returns to the earth as naturally as possible, without embalming chemicals, metal caskets, or concrete vaults. For many coastal families, it feels like a fitting way to honor someone who loved the outdoors, the ocean, or a simpler way of life. It can also cost less than a conventional burial. The challenge is knowing which cemeteries accept natural burial, what each one requires, and how far you are willing to travel.

Key Takeaways

Green burial is legal throughout California and does not require embalming, a casket, or a burial vault when the cemetery allows it.
Newport Beach families typically arrange green burial through a local funeral home that coordinates with certified green cemetery sections elsewhere in Southern California.
Options include Eternal Meadow in Santa Monica, Gan Eden in Los Angeles, Teva in Simi Valley, the Masonic Cemetery in Fallbrook, and Joshua Tree Memorial Park.
Full-body burial at sea and terramation are two related eco-friendly choices for families who prefer an alternative to ground burial.
Cemetery plot and opening and closing fees are set by each cemetery and are billed separately from the funeral home's services.

What Is Green Burial?

Green burial, also called natural burial, is a way of caring for the dead with minimal environmental impact. The body is not embalmed. It is placed in a biodegradable container, such as an untreated wood or wicker casket or a simple cloth shroud, and buried directly in the earth without a concrete or metal vault. Many green burial sections also use flat stones or natural markers instead of upright headstones so the landscape stays as natural as possible.

The Green Burial Council certifies cemeteries at different levels. A hybrid cemetery is a conventional cemetery that sets aside a section for green burial. A natural burial ground is dedicated entirely to green burial. A conservation burial ground goes further by protecting the land through a conservation partnership. For Newport Beach families, most nearby options fall into the hybrid category.

Is Green Burial Legal in California?

Yes. California law does not require embalming, a casket, or a burial vault for a standard burial. Embalming is only required in limited situations, such as certain types of transport. As long as the chosen cemetery permits it, a family can choose a shroud or biodegradable casket and skip embalming. Refrigeration keeps the body cared for until the burial takes place, which is why green burials are usually scheduled promptly.

6 Best Green Burial Providers Serving Newport Beach

1. Farrington Mortuary & Cremation

Farrington Mortuary & Cremation is a family-owned funeral home that serves Newport Beach and communities across Orange County and Los Angeles, with 24/7 availability. Its natural burial package is built for green burial and includes transfer into Farrington's care, refrigeration instead of embalming, washing and shrouding or casketing, ordering the biodegradable casket if one is chosen, service van transport to a green cemetery, staff for the graveside service, and all permits and death certificate filings.

The package is priced at $2,640 and covers transport to a green cemetery within 60 miles, with mileage beyond that billed per mile. Cemetery plot and opening and closing fees are set by the cemetery and billed separately. Farrington can coordinate arrangements with any of the cemeteries on this list, which saves families from contacting each one on their own during a difficult week. Full details are on the packages and pricing page.

Best for: Newport Beach families who want one point of contact to plan a green burial at the cemetery of their choice.

2. Eternal Meadow at Woodlawn Cemetery (Santa Monica)

Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica includes Eternal Meadow, a naturalistic wildflower meadow set aside for green burial that protects native California wildflowers and grasses. Simple wood or wicker caskets and shrouds are accepted, while concrete, metals, and toxic embalming fluids are excluded. The city publishes its pricing for the section, which makes it easier to plan.

For Newport Beach families, Eternal Meadow means a longer drive up the coast, but many find the peaceful meadow setting worth the trip, especially when the person who died had ties to the Westside.

Best for: Families who want a meadow-style green burial in an established, well-maintained cemetery.

3. Gan Eden at Hillside Memorial Park (Los Angeles)

Hillside Memorial Park on the Westside of Los Angeles has set aside a section called Gan Eden that is rooted in traditional Jewish burial practice. Jewish tradition has long called for a plain wooden casket or shroud, no embalming, and a prompt burial, which closely matches the principles of the modern green burial movement.

Best for: Jewish families in Orange County who want a natural burial within their faith tradition.

4. Teva at Mount Sinai Memorial Park (Simi Valley)

Mount Sinai's Simi Valley park offers a green burial area called Teva. Burials there use no embalming chemicals, concrete vaults, or metal caskets. Only natural containers made of wicker or wood, or natural fiber shrouds, are accepted, and each space is marked with a natural engraved stone instead of a bronze marker.

Best for: Families who value clearly published green burial standards and do not mind the drive to Ventura County.

5. Masonic Cemetery Association of Fallbrook (San Diego County)

The Masonic Cemetery in Fallbrook, in north San Diego County, has a Green Burial Council hybrid section. It suits families planning a burial without embalming and with a biodegradable container. Its inland, rural setting offers a quiet alternative to busier urban cemeteries, and it is a reasonable option for families in south Orange County.

Best for: Families who want a certified green section in a peaceful, rural setting south of Orange County.

6. Joshua Tree Memorial Park (Joshua Tree)

Joshua Tree Memorial Park, near Joshua Tree National Park, has a section set aside for green burial in the high desert. The setting is open and unhurried, with a minimal-disturbance approach that appeals to families who loved the desert landscape.

Best for: Families with a personal connection to the desert who want a quiet, natural resting place.

Certification status and cemetery rules can change from year to year. Before you commit, confirm current Green Burial Council certification and ask to see the green section in person or by video.

Other Eco-Friendly Options for Newport Beach Families

Ground burial is not the only green choice. Two other options are especially popular with coastal families.

Full-Body Burial at Sea

A full-body burial at sea places the body, wrapped in a biodegradable sailcloth shroud, in the ocean about six miles offshore. There is no embalming, no vault, and no cemetery plot. Federal rules require full-body burials to take place at least three nautical miles from shore in water at least 600 feet deep, with a report filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency within 30 days. Farrington's burial at sea package starts at $4,500 and includes the mandatory shroud, booking the boat, transportation, and the permit work.

Terramation (Human Composting)

Terramation, also known as natural organic reduction, gently transforms the body into soil using alfalfa, straw, and wood chips. The process takes roughly 30 to 60 days, followed by a curing period, and families receive soil they can use for a memorial garden or tree planting. Farrington coordinates terramation with a partner facility.

How to Choose a Green Burial Provider in Newport Beach

Consider Distance and Visits

Every cemetery on this list is outside Newport Beach, and some are a long drive away. Think about how often your family will want to visit. A cemetery that is easy to reach may matter more than the setting for families who plan to visit regularly. If the cemetery is more than 60 miles away, ask for a written mileage estimate.

Review the Cemetery's Rules

Each green section sets its own rules on containers, markers, plantings, and graveside participation. Some allow family members to help lower the body or fill the grave, and others do not. Ask for the rules in writing before you decide.

Plan for Timing

Without embalming, green burials are usually held within days rather than weeks. If relatives are traveling from out of town, ask how long refrigeration can be provided and whether a memorial service can be held later.

Understand the Full Cost

A green burial typically includes two separate bills: the funeral home's services and the cemetery's fees for the plot and the opening and closing of the grave. Ask both for itemized pricing so there are no surprises.

Questions to Ask Before You Decide

Is the cemetery section certified by the Green Burial Council, and at what level?
Which containers are accepted: shroud, wicker, untreated wood, or cardboard?
What markers are allowed, and who places them?
Can the family take part in the burial or hold a ceremony at the graveside?
What is included in the funeral home's price, and what will the cemetery bill separately?
How soon after the death can the burial take place?

Based on conversations with Orange County families, the decision feels much lighter when one person handles these questions with every party involved. That is the role a funeral home with natural burial experience can play.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a green burial cemetery in Newport Beach?

We are not aware of a dedicated green burial ground inside Newport Beach city limits. Newport Beach families usually arrange green burial at a certified section elsewhere in Southern California, such as Eternal Meadow in Santa Monica, Teva in Simi Valley, or the Masonic Cemetery in Fallbrook. The Green Burial Council's provider map is the best place to check for new sections.

How much does a green burial cost in Southern California?

Costs have two parts. Farrington's natural burial package is $2,640 for its services, transport within 60 miles, and permits. Cemetery plot and opening and closing fees are set by each cemetery and billed separately, so the total depends on the cemetery you choose.

Does green burial require embalming?

No. Green burial specifically avoids embalming. California law does not require embalming for a standard burial, and the body is kept refrigerated until the burial.

What is the difference between green burial and burial at sea?

Green burial places the body in the earth in a biodegradable container without a vault. Full-body burial at sea places the body, wrapped in a biodegradable shroud, in the ocean at least three nautical miles from shore. Both avoid embalming and are considered eco-friendly choices.

Plan a Green Burial With Farrington Mortuary

Choosing a green burial is a meaningful way to honor a life and care for the earth at the same time. Farrington Mortuary & Cremation helps Newport Beach families compare green burial cemeteries, understand every cost in writing, and plan a graveside service that feels personal. Call (800) 674-3659 anytime, day or night, to talk through your options with no pressure.

lindsay farrington

6 Best Green Burial Providers Serving Newport Beach

Key Takeaways

What Is Green Burial?

Is Green Burial Legal in California?