faq 8 min read

By TerraCare

Can I Offer Terramation Alongside Cremation in the Same Facility?

Yes — and many funeral homes and crematories are doing exactly that. Terramation (natural organic reduction, or NOR) and cremation are complementary services, not competing ones. They serve different families with different values, use entirely separate equipment and infrastructure, and are governed by distinct licensing frameworks. Adding NOR to an existing cremation operation is a legitimate expansion of your service offering, not a replacement of it.

Can I offer terramation alongside cremation in the same funeral home facility?

Yes — terramation and cremation can coexist in the same facility and are complementary, not competing, services. They use entirely separate equipment and infrastructure with no crossover, and they serve different family segments: NOR attracts environmentally motivated families who often would not have chosen cremation anyway. Adding NOR expands your disposition spectrum without cannibalizing existing cremation volume.

  • Terramation and cremation use completely separate equipment, infrastructure, and workflows — there is no crossover between the two services.
  • Families who choose NOR are typically environmentally motivated and often would have chosen burial or a non-licensed provider, not cremation — making the services genuinely complementary.
  • Crematories are among the best-positioned facilities to add NOR because their staff already understand regulated processing, chain-of-custody documentation, and family communication.
  • Each service requires its own separate licensing — a cremation license does not automatically authorize NOR operations.
  • Being an early NOR adopter in your market builds brand recognition that later entrants cannot easily replicate.

Are Terramation and Cremation Actually Competing Services?

This is one of the most common concerns funeral directors raise when first evaluating NOR, and data from early-adopting states consistently tells the same story: families who choose terramation were not going to choose cremation. They were either going to choose burial or, in some cases, decline to use a licensed funeral provider altogether.

Terramation appeals to families with strong environmental values — often the same families who prioritize green burial, home funerals, or other low-intervention options. Cremation families, by contrast, are typically drawn by practicality, cost considerations, or long-standing tradition. The Venn diagram overlap is minimal.

By offering both, you are not cannibalizing your cremation volume. You are capturing disposition decisions that would otherwise leave your facility entirely.

Do the Two Services Require Separate Equipment and Infrastructure?

Yes. Terramation and cremation involve entirely different processes, different vessels, and different facility requirements. They do not share retorts, flues, air filtration systems, or processing areas. There is no infrastructure crossover between the two services.

NOR vessels — the enclosed chambers where the process takes place — require floor space, access for loading and unloading, and utility connections specific to the system you select. They do not require the high-heat combustion infrastructure that cremation does, and the two can operate in the same building without interference.

Space planning is the primary logistics consideration. Our terramation equipment space requirements guide covers the footprint in detail, but the short version is that a single NOR vessel is roughly comparable in size to a standard retort and can be integrated into an existing preparation or processing area with appropriate layout planning.

For a deeper look at how crematories specifically approach this dual-service model, see our Cluster 7 resource on terramation and cremation in the same facility.

What Licensing and Regulatory Approvals Do I Need?

State regulations treat terramation and cremation as distinct service categories, which means they carry distinct licensing and permitting requirements. Holding a cremation license does not automatically authorize you to offer NOR, and the reverse is also true.

In the 14 states where NOR is currently legal — Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, California, New York, Nevada, Arizona, Maryland, Delaware, Minnesota, Maine, Georgia, and New Jersey — the specific operator requirements vary by jurisdiction. Some states place oversight with the funeral regulatory board; others route it through environmental or public health agencies. Washington, as the first state to legalize NOR, has the most developed regulatory framework and has served as a model for subsequent state legislation.[1][2]

At the federal level, the process soil is regulated under EPA frameworks applicable to compost and soil amendments.[3] Facility operators need to understand both the state disposition license requirements and any applicable soil end-use regulations in their jurisdiction.

The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) offers the NOR Operator Certification (NOROC), a 4.0 CE hour course available for $300 that is valid for five years. It is not universally required by law, but it is increasingly recognized as a baseline competency credential and may be required by your state or by equipment providers as a condition of operator authorization.[4]

Have questions about licensing requirements in your state? Contact TerraCare Partners — we help operators navigate the regulatory landscape before committing to a build-out.

Are Crematories a Natural Fit for Adding NOR?

Arguably, yes — crematories are among the best-positioned facilities to add terramation. The operational parallels are meaningful:

  • Regulated processing environment. Crematories already operate under structured oversight, maintain chain-of-custody documentation, and follow defined protocols for remains handling. NOR requires the same rigor.
  • Trained, licensed staff. The staff competencies that support cremation operations — attention to process, family communication, regulatory compliance — transfer directly to NOR.
  • Family-facing service model. Crematories that serve families directly (rather than operating exclusively on a wholesale basis for funeral homes) already have the relationship infrastructure to present disposition choices and guide family decision-making.
  • Existing facility footprint. Processing areas, preparation rooms, and loading infrastructure that support cremation often require only incremental modification to accommodate NOR vessels.

The transition is not trivial — regulatory approvals, staff training, and capital investment are real — but crematories start from a stronger position than a new entrant building from scratch.

What Is the Business Case for Offering Both Services?

The business case centers on three factors: family choice, market positioning, and long-term demand.

Family choice. Families increasingly research disposition options before selecting a provider. A funeral home or crematory offering cremation, terramation, and traditional burial becomes a destination across the disposition spectrum — families can complete the selection process with a single call rather than shopping multiple providers.

Market positioning. Being among the first NOR providers in your state or region is a meaningful differentiator. Early adopters in states where NOR has been legal for several years have established brand recognition that later entrants cannot easily replicate.

Long-term demand. Survey data consistently shows consumer interest in environmentally oriented disposition options is growing, particularly among younger cohorts beginning to engage in end-of-life planning.[5][6] The NFDA’s consumer awareness studies have tracked increasing familiarity with green burial and NOR over successive survey cycles.[7]

Positioning your facility as a full-spectrum provider now builds the operational capability and community reputation that will support volume as demand matures.

FAQ

Q: Will adding terramation require significant renovation to my existing cremation facility? A: Not necessarily. The two services use separate equipment and infrastructure, so they can coexist in the same facility without structural modifications in many cases. The primary variable is floor space. How much depends on the number of vessels you plan to operate and the configuration of your existing processing area. A facility assessment early in the planning process will clarify what, if any, modifications are needed.

Q: Can the same staff members operate both cremation and NOR services? A: Yes, provided they hold the appropriate certifications for each service type. NOR operator training — such as the CANA NOROC credential — is typically completed in addition to existing cremation licensing, not in place of it. Staff who already understand regulated remains handling, chain-of-custody documentation, and family communication are well-positioned to add NOR competencies.

Q: Do I need separate marketing for terramation, or can it be integrated into my existing funeral home brand? A: Both approaches work, and many operators integrate NOR into their existing brand as an expanded service offering rather than launching a separate identity. The key is clear communication — families choosing terramation want to know that the provider understands the process and values behind it. Explaining NOR on your website and in family consultations, alongside your other services, is typically sufficient.

Q: Are there states where offering both terramation and cremation in the same facility raises any specific regulatory complications? A: In most of the 14 legal states, the services are regulated independently, and co-location does not create regulatory complications beyond meeting the requirements for each service individually. That said, licensing frameworks vary by state, and some states may have facility or zoning requirements worth confirming with your state regulatory body before investing in NOR infrastructure. California, New York, and New Jersey have passed NOR legislation but are not yet operational, so operators in those states should monitor rulemaking developments.

Ready to evaluate adding terramation to your facility? Our team works with funeral homes and crematories at every stage of the planning process, from initial feasibility to regulatory guidance and staff training. Contact TerraCare Partners to start the conversation.

Sources

  1. Washington State Department of Ecology. Natural Organic Reduction Facilities: Guidance for Operators. Olympia, WA. ecology.wa.gov
  2. Oregon Mortuary and Cemetery Board. Natural Organic Reduction Licensing Requirements. Salem, OR.
  3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A Guide to the Biosolids Risk Assessments for the EPA Part 503 Rule. EPA/832-B-93-005. Washington, DC: EPA, 1995.
  4. Cremation Association of North America (CANA). NOR Operator Certification (NOROC) Program Overview. Chicago, IL: CANA. cremationassociation.org
  5. National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). 2023 NFDA Consumer Awareness and Preferences Study. Brookfield, WI: NFDA, 2023.
  6. Green Burial Council. Consumer Interest in Green Burial: Trends and Survey Data. Nevada City, CA: GBC.
  7. National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). NFDA Cremation and Burial Report: Research, Statistics and Projections. Brookfield, WI: NFDA, 2023.
  8. Spade, Katrina. Natural Organic Reduction: Process Overview and Regulatory Framework. Presented at the NFDA Annual Convention, 2022.

See all funeral director FAQ articles in the TerraCare Partners FAQ Hub. For resources specific to cemetery and crematory operators, visit the Cemetery and Crematory Operator Resource Center.