U.S. News
New York approves ‘human composting’ as a method of burial [Video]
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation on Saturday to legalize “human composting” as a method of burial.
- The action makes New York the sixth state to approve natural organic reduction.
- Human composting involves putting a corpse in a reusable vessel with plant material.
New York has become the sixth state in the United States to legalize natural organic reduction, popularly known as human composting, as a method of burial.
Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the legislation on Saturday. Washington was the first state to legalize human composting in 2019, followed by Colorado and Oregon in 2021 and Vermont and California in 2022.
The process involves the body of the deceased being placed into a reusable vessel, along with plant material such as wood chips, alfalfa and straw. The organic mix creates the perfect habitat for naturally occurring microbes to do their work, quickly and efficiently breaking down the body in about a month’s time.
The end result is a cubic yard stack of nutrient-dense soil amendment, the equivalent of about 36 bags of soil, that can be used to plant trees or enrich conservation land, forests, or gardens.
For urban areas such as New York City where land is limited, it can be seen as a pretty attractive burial alternative.
Even though human composting is now legal in The Empire State, not everyone is on board with the idea. New York State Catholic Conference, which represents the state’s bishops, had opposed the legislation.
“A process that is perfectly appropriate for returning vegetable trimmings to the earth is not necessarily appropriate for human bodies,” Dennis Poust, executive director of the Catholic conference, said in a statement.
“Human bodies are not household waste, and we do not believe that the process meets the standard of reverent treatment of our earthly remains,” Poust added.
To critics of human composting, Katrina Spade, the founder of Recompose, said: “Cremation uses fossil fuels and burial uses a lot of land and has a carbon footprint. For a lot of folks being turned into soil that can be turned to grow into a garden or tree is pretty impactful.”
Recompose is a Seattle-based funeral home that leads the movement in human composting.
Source: Associated Press
Ally
January 8, 2023 at 6:46 pm
Well I guess some don’t need to be remembered by their families and friends, so maybe this is how to deal with the homeless who die on the streets of places like New York?
Jeanne Leeber
January 8, 2023 at 11:14 pm
certainly sounds like a winner to me! but put them in the forests, not food gardens as there’s probably a lot of drugs, chemicals and other things that might alter the nutritive value! Jeanne
Bonnie Allison
January 9, 2023 at 1:42 pm
Exactly what I was thinking! The next step from genetically modified foods, to so and so got such and such and died from eating food from human compost. Just another way to dehumanize people and depopulate the earth. Hello B. Gates.
Marie Ange Theodore
January 9, 2023 at 4:01 pm
So agreed with you Jeanne. Nobody wants that in their food. Thanks Jeanne for pointing that out.
CPO Bill
January 8, 2023 at 7:03 pm
I think its disgusting!
Lorraine Kemer
January 8, 2023 at 7:13 pm
Just imagine eating fruits and vegetables that were grown with decomposed human bodies. NO THANKS. God’s Word says “dust to dust”, not dust to food. This is such a sick idea that I’m sure a democrat came up with it.
Sean Richman
January 8, 2023 at 9:12 pm
Disgusting.When you eat food fertilized by a loved one don’t you think that that would be just a little bit unsettling.I couldn’t do it,I have enough trouble eating for weeks after a loved one passes and it much worse if it was my wife.You libs go for the”greenie weiny”stuff,i’ll never get that far”OUT”.
Jeni Smith
January 8, 2023 at 9:59 pm
I’ve checked into it. (Colorado) and from what I’ve read is they will give the family a container for the family and the rest can be turned into the forest service to be used in areas in need in forests! My gosh you won’t be eating anyone! What a wonderful idea! Become informed before you talk about what you assume or don’t know!
Christine Meehan
January 8, 2023 at 10:11 pm
I think it is a wonderful idea. People are cremated and thrown in the ocean, on property. I don’t see what the difference is and it is serving a good purpose.
Puddinhead
January 8, 2023 at 11:42 pm
Every day I hear of yet another sick idea laid at our feet, is there no end to the madness? What forests do you know of that are in need of soil? Who told you that and what proof do they offer? Are you so stupid you will fall for such lunacy?