Burial at sea
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) has an informative website explaining the options for burial at sea and the relevant regulations. The placement of human remains in ocean waters must be beyond “three nautical miles from shore.” A sea burial must be reported within 30 days after the burial; the reporting form is on the E.P.A. site.
Burial in other countries / Shipping a body from the U.S.
Yes, it is possible to send a deceased body to another country for burial. Repatriation of a loved one to a “home country” can be very meaningful. Most funeral homes know how to make such arrangements. A Boston-area funeral home has developed expertise in International Funeral Shipping. Note: our national FCA office has advised contacting a funeral home in the other country first, to seek advice; they may have less costly or preferred ways to arrange transport.
Alkaline hydrolysis
Alkaline hydrolysis (also called “water cremation” or aquamation) combines water, alkaline chemicals, and heat to accelerate natural decomposition, leaving only bone fragments and a neutral liquid (effluent). It uses less fuel then flame cremation, and causes less air pollution. The resulting “remains” tend to be whiter than the grey “ashes” from flame cremation. The liquid effluent can be discharged safely into wastewater systems. Massachusetts does not (yet) allow Alkaline hydrolysis, but the option is already legal in many states, including Florida, Illinois, Maine, Oregon, and Washington. For a basic overview of the process and the status of state laws, see Nolo’s Alkaline Hydrolysis state-by-state
Natural Organic Reduction (N.O.R.)
Natural Organic Reduction (also known as “human composting,” “terramation,” or soil transformation) is a newer option, implemented first in Washington state in 2020. Colorado and Oregon soon approved it. See Oregon’s summary about NOR as “A Natural Choice for the End of Life.” In May 2026 N.O.R. facilities opened in Maryland and Vermont. Residents of Massachusetts can choose N.O.R. by working with a funeral director to arrange transport to an N.O.R. facility elsewhere. Although Massachusetts legislators have filed bills in favor of this environmentally-friendly option, the bills have not been passed, so no N.O.R. facility can be built here (yet).
For an overview of the process and list of states that have approved it, see Human Composting (NOR): How It Works, Costs & Providers [2026 Guide], a webpage written by Sara Marsden-Ille, and published on US Funerals Online, an independent consumer resource. Her report lists companies that provide the service and gives information about their prices and locations. (There may be extra costs, of course, for long-distance transport of the body.)
Traveling the World
There are many other options and customs for death care. For advice about U.S. residents who happen to die while abroad, see Death Away From Home (FCA). For exploration of customs in other cultures, read Caitlyn Doughty’s book, From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death.