When a family in Wyoming starts searching for green burial Wyoming or natural burial Wyoming, it usually isn’t because they want something trendy. It’s because a loss has made everything feel suddenly real, and the “standard” choices—embalming, a sealed casket, a vault, an irrigated lawn—don’t feel like the right last chapter. Sometimes the person who died talked about wanting to “go back to the earth.” Sometimes the family is looking for a simpler goodbye, with fewer chemicals and less permanence. And sometimes it’s practical: when the budget is tight, families begin asking honest questions about what is truly required and what is simply customary.
In Wyoming, where distances are long and communities are spread out, “near me” can mean two hours, four hours, or a day’s drive. That’s why it helps to start with a standards-based tool rather than a marketing label. The Green Burial Council (GBC) maintains a cemetery provider map that lets you search by location and filter by cemetery category—Hybrid, Natural, or Conservation. Even if the closest certified site is across a state line, the map gives you a reliable starting point and a shared vocabulary for the conversations that follow.
This guide walks you through how to use the GBC map to find certified options serving Wyoming, how to confirm what “certified” really means in day-to-day policies (vault rules, embalming rules, biodegradable containers), and how to build a full cost picture before you commit. And if certified options are limited for your part of Wyoming, you’ll also learn how to vet non-certified cemeteries that still allow key green practices—without getting surprised later.
Why certification matters when “green” can mean anything
In funeral planning, families often discover a frustrating truth: “green” is sometimes used as a feeling rather than a policy. A cemetery might describe itself as “eco-friendly” because it has trees, or because it allows a wood casket, while still requiring a concrete vault and routine chemical lawn care. The Green Burial Council’s role is to reduce that ambiguity by setting standards and certifying providers who meet them. On the GBC cemetery map, the category label is not just branding—it points to a defined baseline for what the cemetery does and does not require.
It can also help to know why these questions are showing up more often. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to reach 63.4% in 2025. That doesn’t mean burial is disappearing—it means families are actively comparing options and asking for choices that match their values. For many Wyoming families, that comparison includes eco friendly burial Wyoming on one side, and cremation memorialization on the other—sometimes with a decision that blends both (a simple burial for one person, cremation for another, or cremation with a biodegradable memorial plan).
How to use the Green Burial Council cemetery provider map for Wyoming searches
Start with the GBC Cemetery Provider Map and search from the city or region that matters to your family: Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, Gillette, Jackson, Rock Springs, Sheridan—wherever the logistics are anchored. Then filter by category. This is where you’ll see the three main kinds of certified cemeteries you may encounter serving Wyoming families:
Hybrid cemeteries are conventional cemeteries that offer a designated green/natural section (or have adopted green rules for a portion of the grounds). For many families, a hybrid cemetery Wyoming search ends up pointing to a neighboring-state hybrid section, because hybrids can be easier to establish within existing cemetery infrastructure.
Natural burial grounds are dedicated to natural burial as the identity of the cemetery. In practice, a natural burial Wyoming search often leads families to consider a true natural burial ground in a nearby state, especially if they want clear no-vault policies and a more natural landscape approach.
Conservation cemeteries add land-protection commitments on top of natural burial practices, tying burial to long-term stewardship and conservation outcomes. A conservation burial Wyoming search can sometimes involve travel, but for families who care deeply about land legacy, it can feel like the most aligned option.
One practical tip: the map is useful even when it does not show a certified cemetery within your county. It shows you what “certified” looks like—and that clarity makes your calls with local cemeteries more productive, because you can ask about policies, not labels.
Certified options that commonly serve Wyoming families
Because certification availability can change and because Wyoming families often travel to the closest workable option, it’s smart to confirm current status directly on the GBC map before placing deposits. That said, here are several GBC-aligned options that are often realistic for Wyoming families depending on where you live and where you need the burial to happen.
Roselawn Cemetery (Fort Collins, Colorado): certified green burial area within a conventional cemetery (Hybrid)
For families in southern Wyoming—especially near Cheyenne or along the I-25 corridor—Fort Collins can be one of the more practical neighboring hubs. The City of Fort Collins describes a green burial area at Roselawn Cemetery (the Garden of Harmony) that follows standards set aside by the Green Burial Council, including no vault requirement and biodegradable container rules, with embalming restricted unless using certified products. You can review the city’s green burial policies on the City of Fort Collins page.
Why this can matter for a no vault burial Wyoming search: many conventional cemeteries require a vault to reduce ground settling and simplify mowing. A green section like this is designed to remove that barrier, but it also adds rules that protect the integrity of the section—such as restrictions on memorial types and plantings.
Colorado Burial Preserve (Florence, Colorado): GBC-certified Natural Burial Ground
If your family is willing to travel farther for a setting built around natural burial from the ground up, Colorado Burial Preserve is a well-known option in the region. The cemetery describes itself as a Green Burial Council–certified Natural Burial Ground and emphasizes core policies families often seek: no toxic embalming, biodegradable container requirements (such as a shroud or biodegradable casket), and no vaults. You can explore their overview at Colorado Burial Preserve and their explanation of natural burial practices at Natural Burial.
For families searching biodegradable casket Wyoming or burial shroud Wyoming, this is the kind of provider that tends to be very clear about what materials are acceptable and why. That clarity can be emotionally relieving, because it reduces last-minute conflict between what a family wants and what a cemetery will allow.
Memorial Mortuaries & Cemeteries (Utah): certified hybrid cemetery operator (Hybrid)
For some Wyoming families—especially those closer to the southwest corner of the state or with family ties in Utah—Utah options can be more practical than Colorado. Memorial Mortuaries & Cemeteries describes itself as a certified hybrid cemetery operator, meaning it designates areas within conventional cemeteries where burial occurs without a concrete vault, without chemical embalming, and with a biodegradable container. Their overview is available at Memorial Utah.
If you’re planning embalming free funeral Wyoming logistics and considering an out-of-state hybrid section, the key is timing and transport. Many families choose refrigeration and prompt scheduling rather than embalming, and a hybrid cemetery operator is more likely to be familiar with that workflow.
What to ask to confirm vault, embalming, and container rules
When grief is fresh, families often want a short list of questions that cut through confusion. The goal is not to interrogate a cemetery—it’s to prevent surprises. Whether you’re calling a certified provider you found on the GBC map or a local Wyoming cemetery that is not certified, these questions are the ones that most often change the plan (and the cost).
- Is a vault or liner required, or is this truly a no vault burial option?
- Is embalming required, optional, discouraged, or prohibited for the green area?
- What biodegradable containers are accepted: shroud only, shroud with a carrier board, softwood casket, wicker, bamboo, or other materials?
- Are there rules about clothing, blankets, or personal items placed with the body?
- How are graves dug and maintained (hand-digging vs. equipment, irrigation policies, mowing, chemicals)?
- What memorial and marker rules apply in the green area (flat markers only, material restrictions, limits on decorations)?
If you want a calm walkthrough of how biodegradable containers fit into cemetery policies, Funeral.com’s Green Burial Guide and the practical container-focused articles Biodegradable Caskets and Eco-Friendly Coffins and Green Burial Shrouds can help you translate “green” into decisions you can actually make.
Green burial cost in Wyoming: how to build a realistic total
Families often search green burial cost Wyoming because they’re trying to make a good decision without financial regret. The hard part is that burial costs are rarely one line item. Even when you choose simplicity, you’re still paying for land, labor, and paperwork. The cost structure is usually a combination of cemetery fees and service fees, and those can vary widely by region and provider.
At the cemetery level, you’re typically paying for the plot (or interment right), opening and closing of the grave, and any required administrative fees. In a conventional cemetery, vault costs can be a major add-on; in a green burial ground or true green section, vaults are usually prohibited or unnecessary, which can remove that expense. Some directories describe green burial plot pricing ranging widely—often from the hundreds to several thousand dollars depending on location and cemetery model—reflecting how much variability there is across the country. For example, US Funerals Online notes that green burial plots can range from about $500 to $5,000, depending on the cemetery and services chosen.
At the service level, you may have funeral home fees (or alternative provider fees) for transportation, refrigeration, paperwork, and coordination. In some cases, families use a funeral home for part of the process and handle other parts themselves, especially when state law and logistics allow. The right approach is the one that feels manageable for your family. “Cheapest” is not always the same as “least stressful.”
And then there’s the container. For a traditional burial, the container conversation often begins with a casket. For green burial, it begins with biodegradability and cemetery acceptance. A simple shroud can be deeply meaningful, and it can also be one of the most straightforward options—when the cemetery allows it. If your family is trying to understand burial shroud Wyoming realities, start by confirming whether the cemetery requires a carrier board for safe handling and lowering. If you’re choosing cremation instead and still want a low-impact memorial, biodegradable options exist there too—such as earth-burial or water-soluble urns designed for gentle return to nature. Funeral.com’s Biodegradable & Eco-Friendly Urns for Ashes collection and the guide Biodegradable Urns can help you understand how those plans work.
When Wyoming has limited certified options: how to vet a non-certified cemetery
If the GBC map doesn’t show a certified provider within a realistic travel radius for your family, that does not automatically mean you can’t have a meaningful green burial. It means you need to shift from “find a label” to “confirm policies.” Many cemeteries are willing to accommodate key green practices—especially when families ask clearly and respectfully—because vault and embalming requirements are often policy choices, not legal requirements. The decisive factor is whether the cemetery will allow what you want to do in writing, not just verbally.
A useful way to think about it: if you can confirm no-vault permission, embalming is not required, and biodegradable containers are accepted, you may be able to create a green-leaning burial even without formal certification. It may not match every standard a certified natural burial ground would meet, but it can still honor the values that brought you here: simplicity, gentleness, and stewardship.
When you call a local cemetery, you can frame it in plain language: “We are trying to plan a burial that avoids a vault, avoids embalming if possible, and uses a biodegradable container such as an unfinished wood casket or a shroud. Is that something your cemetery can accommodate?” That question is calm, specific, and gives the cemetery a real chance to respond with policy details rather than vague reassurance.
Alternatives that still honor the same values
Sometimes the truth is that the most workable plan isn’t a full-body green burial. Weather, distance, timing, and cost can steer families toward cremation, even when their values are rooted in nature. If that happens, it does not mean the values are lost. It simply means the “how” changes.
For families asking what to do with ashes, the options can be more flexible than you might expect. Some families choose a home memorial and feel comfortable keeping ashes at home for a while before deciding on a final resting place. Others choose scattering, or a biodegradable burial plan. If your family is considering water burial as an alternative, it helps to understand how water-soluble urns work and what rules apply for different waterways. Funeral.com’s guide Biodegradable Ocean & Water Burial Urns offers a grounded explanation of how these memorials are typically planned.
Cost can be part of that decision too. If you’re comparing burial and cremation because the budget is tight, it helps to see a full breakdown rather than guessing. Funeral.com’s guide How Much Does Cremation Cost explains common fee structures and what tends to change the total, so you can compare options without the fog of uncertainty.
Green funeral planning in Wyoming: a gentler way to make decisions
Green funeral planning Wyoming is often less about finding the perfect option and more about building a plan that your family can carry. A death can make decision-making feel like walking through snow: everything is quieter, slower, and harder than it should be. The map, the categories, the policies, and the cost breakdown are not meant to make you “do it right.” They’re meant to reduce regret by making sure the plan you choose is actually possible where you need it to happen.
If you take nothing else from this guide, take this: start with standards, then confirm policies, then get costs in writing. Whether you end up choosing a certified green burial cemetery across state lines, a local cemetery willing to allow vault-free burial, or a cremation plan with a biodegradable memorial, the most compassionate outcome is the one that feels honest, workable, and kind to the people who are living through the loss.
FAQs
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Are there Green Burial Council certified cemeteries in Wyoming?
Availability can change, and Wyoming families often use nearby certified sites across state lines. The most reliable way to confirm current certified options is to use the Green Burial Council’s Cemetery Provider Map and search from the Wyoming city that matters to your family, then filter by category.
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What is the difference between a hybrid cemetery and a natural burial ground?
A hybrid cemetery is a conventional cemetery that offers a designated green/natural section with specific rules (often no vault, biodegradable containers, and limits on embalming). A natural burial ground is dedicated to natural burial as its core identity, typically with stricter, cemetery-wide practices designed around natural decomposition and land care.
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Do you have to embalm for a green burial?
In many green burial settings, embalming is discouraged or not allowed, though policies vary. Some green sections allow only non-toxic or certified products if any preparation is used. Always confirm the cemetery’s policy and your funeral home’s timing plan (refrigeration and prompt scheduling are common alternatives).
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Is a vault required for green burial?
Vault requirements are usually cemetery policies, not universal legal requirements. In a dedicated green burial ground or true green section, vaults and liners are typically not required and may be prohibited. Confirm this early, because vault rules often determine whether a cemetery can accommodate a no-vault burial plan.
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What if there isn’t a certified green cemetery close enough to travel?
You can still ask local cemeteries whether they will allow key green practices: no vault, no embalming requirement, and biodegradable containers (shroud or unfinished wood casket). If they can confirm those policies in writing, you may be able to create a green-leaning burial even without certification. If burial logistics are too difficult, cremation with a biodegradable memorial plan can also honor similar values.
