<P> Cremation might be preferable for environmental reasons . Burial is a known source of certain environmental contaminants, with the coffin itself being the major contaminant; however, in some countries, e.g. the UK, legislation now requires that cremators be fitted with abatement equipment (filters) that remove serious pollutants such as mercury . </P> <P> Each cremation uses about 110 L (28 US gal) of fuel and releases about 240 kg (540 lb) of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere . Thus, the roughly 1 million bodies that are cremated annually in the United States produce about 240,000 t (270,000 short tons) of carbon dioxide . That's more CO pollution than 22,000 average American homes generate in a year . The environmental impact may be reduced by using cremators for longer periods, and not cremating on the same day as the coffin is received, which reduces the use of fossil fuel and hence carbon emissions . Cremation is therefore becoming more friendly toward the environment though natural burials are also possible . Some funeral and crematorium owners offer a carbon neutral funeral service incorporating efficient - burning coffins made from lightweight recycled composite board . </P> <P> Another environmental concern is that traditional burial takes up a great deal of space . In a traditional burial, the body is buried in a casket made from a variety of materials . In the United States, the casket is often placed inside a concrete vault or liner before burial in the ground . While individually this may not take much room, combined with other burials, it can over time cause serious space concerns . Many cemeteries, particularly in Japan and Europe as well as those in larger cities, have run out of permanent space . In Tokyo, for example, traditional burial plots are extremely scarce and expensive, and in London, a space crisis led Harriet Harman to propose reopening old graves for "double - decker" burials . </P> <P> Some cities in Germany do not have plots for sale, only for lease . When the lease expires, the remains are disinterred and a specialist bundles the bones, inscribes the forehead of the skull with the information that was on the headstone, and places the remains in a special crypt . </P>

Where was the first form of cremation in the united states carried out