Why More U.S. States Are Legalizing Human Composting as a Green Burial Alternative
As Americans seek eco-friendly burial choices, human composting emerges as a transformative, sustainable solution.
Facing the environmental realities of traditional burial and cremation, a growing number of U.S. states are embracing human composting as a legal and sustainable alternative. Formally known as natural organic reduction (NOR), human composting turns bodies into soil, supporting a full-circle ecological legacy. This article explores what human composting is, how it works, its legal journey, the reasons behind its rise, states where it is now legal, and answers to common questions about this innovative practice.
What is Human Composting?
Human composting, or natural organic reduction (NOR), is an emerging death care practice in which the body is transformed into nutrient-rich soil. Inspired by natural decomposition, it harnesses controlled conditions to accelerate what might otherwise take years in nature.
- Process: The body is placed in a vessel with organic materials such as wood chips, alfalfa, and straw.
- Conditions: The environment is carefully managed for optimal temperature, moisture, and aeration, stimulating microbes and beneficial bacteria to break down the remains.
- Duration: Within approximately 30 to 60 days, the process yields a cubic yard or more of healthy soil.
The resulting soil can be returned to the family or donated to conservation efforts, supporting new plant life and restoring local ecosystems. This approach appeals to those seeking a green, low-impact legacy.
Why the Shift Toward Human Composting?
The rise of human composting reflects changing societal values, growing environmental awareness, and a search for alternatives to conventional burial and cremation, both of which have significant environmental drawbacks:
- Traditional burial requires embalming chemicals, cement vaults, and non-biodegradable caskets, using land and resources that do not decompose naturally for decades.
- Cremation generates greenhouse gases and, in the U.S. alone, releases an estimated 250,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually.
Human composting offers a gentle, eco-conscious return to the earth—echoing nature’s carbon cycle and providing a tangible contribution to the environment in the form of fertile soil.
Legalization Timeline: How Human Composting Became Law
The journey toward legal human composting in the United States has accelerated since 2019, with dozens of states either passing or considering NOR legislation.
| State | Year Legalized | Status/Effective Date |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 2019 | May 2020 (effective) |
| Colorado | 2021 | August 2021 (effective) |
| Oregon | 2021 | July 2022 (effective) |
| Vermont | 2022 | January 2023 (effective) |
| California | 2022 | Regulations by 2027 |
| New York | 2022 | 2023 (effective) |
| Nevada | 2023 | January 2024 (effective) |
| Arizona | 2024 | 2024 (effective) |
| Maryland | 2023 | 2023 |
| Delaware | 2023 | 2023 |
| Minnesota | 2023 | July 2025 (effective) |
| Maine | 2024 | 2024 |
| Georgia | 2025 | July 2025 (effective) |
Many other states are in various stages of considering legislation, with increasing public support and advocacy driven by environmental and consumer choice organizations.
How Does Human Composting Work?
The practical application of human composting is guided by scientific processes and strict regulation to ensure dignity and safety. Here’s a step-by-step overview:
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- Preparation: The body, dressed in biodegradable garments, is placed in a vessel (often called a cradle) with a carefully layered mix of organic materials.
- Decomposition: Microbial activity, heat, and periodic mixing speed the transformation of the body and plant material into soil.
- Transformation: Once finished, the raw soil is screened to remove non-organic matter (such as medical implants), then cured and tested for safety.
- Return: The final soil, safe and rich, is returned to family, scattered on private land, or donated to conservation projects.
Most facilities allow families to witness certain parts of the process, providing new possibilities for personal or meaningful goodbyes, much like a traditional funeral or cremation ceremony.
Who is Driving the Movement?
The legalization movement is driven by a combination of eco-activists, forward-thinking lawmakers, and innovative companies. One of the foremost pioneers was Katrina Spade, founder of Recompose, who was instrumental in passing the first human composting law in Washington.
- Consumer choice: Families increasingly want meaningful, eco-aligned funeral options.
- Industry leadership: Companies like Recompose, Return Home, and Earth Funeral have set the standard for ethical and accountable human composting services.
- Legislative advocacy: Lawmakers and advocacy organizations push for access and regulatory frameworks to expand NOR’s availability nationwide.
States Actively Supporting Human Composting
Each state that legalizes human composting helps normalize the practice and brings additional options to residents. Regulations typically address:
- Facility licensing and inspections
- Operator training and oversight
- How the soil can be distributed (including restrictions against using it for food crops)
- Respect for individual and familial consent
Most states allow the soil to be kept by the family for private ceremony, scattering, or donation to conservation lands, but commercial sale is almost always prohibited.
Considerations and Concerns
Human composting may not be for everyone. Some concerns and questions include:
- Religious beliefs: Some organizations have expressed reservations or opposition, while others embrace human composting’s spirit of renewal.
- Regulatory lag: It can take several years between legalization and the full availability of NOR services in a state, as facilities are built and new rules are implemented.
- Transport and access: In states where NOR is not yet legal or available, families may transport remains to legal states with active NOR providers.
Future Outlook: More States Poised to Legalize Human Composting
The trend is clear: as Americans reconsider burial and cremation, and lawmakers respond to constituent demand for sustainable options, more states are expected to pass NOR legislation in the coming years. The process aligns with broader goals of conservation, climate responsibility, and giving back to the earth in death as in life.
Frequently Asked Questions about Human Composting
Q: What are the benefits of human composting compared to burial or cremation?
A: Human composting avoids embalming chemicals and fossil fuel use, reduces carbon emissions, and returns nutrients to the earth, supporting reforestation and ecological health.
Q: Is human composting available to everyone?
A: Anyone can express a wish for human composting, but its availability depends on state law and active facilities. In states where it is legal but not yet offered locally, remains can sometimes be transported to states with operational NOR providers.
Q: Are there restrictions on how the soil can be used?
A: Most states prohibit selling the resulting soil or using it to grow food, but it is typically permitted for personal use, scattering, or conservation activities.
Q: What happens if my state does not allow human composting?
A: Those living in states without NOR may still participate by coordinating with local funeral directors to transport remains across state lines to legal, operational facilities.
Q: How long does the transformation process take?
A: The human composting process typically takes 30 to 60 days, after which the soil is cured and returned to the family or used for conservation.
Key Takeaways
- Human composting is legal in an expanding number of U.S. states, reflecting growing demand for eco-friendly end-of-life options.
- It offers a sustainable alternative to traditional burials and cremation, producing soil that can enrich natural environments.
- Advocacy and innovation continue to drive the spread and accessibility of NOR, with further legislative changes anticipated.
As more Americans seek a gentle, planet-friendly way to return to the earth, human composting is emerging as a transformative choice—honoring both individual wishes and our shared responsibility to safeguard the environment for generations to come.
References
- https://recompose.life/faqs/where-is-human-composting-legal/
- https://www.us-funerals.com/human-composting-as-a-new-death-care-alternative-a-guide-to-nor/
- https://www.betterplaceforests.com/blog/what-states-allow-human-composting/
- https://www.dignitymemorial.com/plan-funeral-cremation/human-composting-now-legal-in-us-states
- https://earthfuneral.com/resources/tracker-where-human-composting-legal
- https://publications.lawschool.cornell.edu/jlpp/2022/11/03/dust-to-dust-why-we-should-legalize-human-composting/
- https://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/get-involved/legislative-advocacy/support-composting-legislation/
- https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-human-composting
- https://recompose.life/human-composting/advocacy/
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