HUMAN COMPOSTING

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

Washington, Colorado and Oregon are now among the U.S. states that have legalized the process of converting human bodies into soil, a procedure the Catholic Church said fails to show “respect for the body of the deceased.” Meanwhile, California and New York are seeking to be next in line to allow human composting.


Here’s how it works: A dead body is broken down through a process known as Natural Organic Reduction by placing the body in a reusable vessel, covering it with wood chips and aerating it, which creates an environment for microbes and essential bacteria. The body, over a span of about 30 days, is fully transformed into soil.



This process is seen as a more sustainable alternative to cremation, which requires fossil fuels and releases carbon dioxide. Proponents say families can use the soil to plant a tree or a garden to honor their loved ones. In public testimony, the Oregon bill garnered widespread

And here is the company: recompose.life/ The process for composting a body was introduced by the Seattle-based company Recompose, which is now open for business after the state of Washington legalized the process in 2019. Colorado was the second state to legalize it, followed by Oregon, when Gov. Kate Brown in mid-June signed House Bill 2574 into law.

Very nice website check it out. I like this even better than cremation. I am not into embalming and burial of the dead corpse.

[Clipper]

That is not such a new idea. I would not be surprised if the old time criminal element in Utica may have planted and composted a few over the years on the Mohawk River flats or in backyard gardens.

[clarencebunsen]

Other than the time line, how is this different than being buried in a plain pine box. Our bodies are organic compounds and water.

[Clipper]

How environmentally sound would it be to let a body compost when it is saturated with embalming fluid? Probably safer to continue with sealed caskets and vaults to prevent the potential risks of spreading some sort of pathogen as well as the chemical pollution of the embalming fluids. Personally I wouldn't care if they put me in a hefty bag and put me out to the curb on a Tuesday morning. This old body will be well used up and of no further use to ME, haha.

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

The body is NOT embalmed! No threat to the environment.

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

Jul 14, 2021 9:23:37 GMT -5 clarencebunsen said:

Other than the time line, how is this different than being buried in a plain pine box. Our bodies are organic compounds and water.

You would then have to dig the body up to get the compost and plant some tulips. We will be running our of cemeteries so this option is good.

[BHU]

Imho, the idea is barbaric & will never catch on. Trust me, people are not going to use compost made from a human body to plant tomatoes or anything else in. It's ridiculous.

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

Most likely BHU but time will tell especially today with ever increasing prices just to embalm, dress. do make up for presentation buy a coffin and cement vault and then purchase a grave site pay to open it up and then pay big money for a headstone. There are already several places that offer natural burial for a human corpse that doesn't involve embalming and the corpse in placed in a natural setting with no markers like you see in regular cemeteries. www.orderofthegooddeath.com/resources/natural-burial

And life springs forth

[Clipper]

Not embalmed. I guessI was under the impression that most states, if not all, require embalming by law.

[Clipper]

Not embalmed. I guessI was under the impression that most states, if not all, require embalming by law.

[clarencebunsen]

I don't understand why anyone would prefer that their corpse would be be pumped full of chemicals to inhibit natural decomposition.

[Clipper]

I guess embalming was originally meant to be a sanitizing thing and also makes it possible to preserve a person's features for viewing at a funeral service. After reading more on the subject I found that embalming is NOT required by law with the exception of when the body is to be transported across state lines or flown by airplane. I learn something every day and can now put yet one more misconception to rest.

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

Many people usually flock the churches on Ash Wednesday to have ashes imposed on their foreheads in cruciform with the words that have been used for hundreds of years: “Remember, man, that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return”

[Clipper]

Hmm. Dust or ashes, or just composted down to a loamy soil. Makes no difference I guess. Once our spirit and soul have left the worn out and tired chassis it is nothing but the empty container. There is no other recycling program for human bodies so I guess the method of disposal is up to a person and his loved ones. Composting is the closest thing to recycling I guess.

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

This answered some of my questions.


‘Human composting’ on the rise as ‘green funerals’ become increasingly popular


The burial practice leaves little to no environmental impac

The push for environmental consciousness has sparked the rise of not only green energy initiatives, but now also the move to “green burials” or “human composting” practices over more traditional methods.



Gaining increasing popularity over the last few years, green burial practices leave little to no environmental impact, with “complete decomposition of the body and its natural return to the soil thus encouraging new growth and restoration of ecosystems,” according to the Funeral Consumers Alliance. Additionally, unlike traditional burials that use toxic chemicals, only biodegradable substances are used during the burial process.



In 2019, Washington became the first state to allow human composting, followed by Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, California and New York



Traditional burial procedures use the chemicals formalin, methanol and benzene, among other toxins, during the embalming process, which critics say have a harmful impact on soil, water systems and the body.



According to the National Funeral Director’s Association, in 2022, 60.5% would be interested in “green” funeral options, up from 55.7% the prior year.



In addition to an interest in moving towards greener practices, the cost of a green burial is often significantly less that a traditional burial, which on average costed people $7,848 in 2022.



In contrast, according to US Funerals Online, the cost of human composting practices can range from $4,000-$5,500, saving consumers a few thousand dollars on death procedures. Green burials, on the other hand, can range from $500-$5,000, varying largely based on the cemetery in question and whether funeral director services are used.



While both methods promote natural decomposition, the difference between a green burial and human composting is that human composting decomposes a body in a closed, reusable vessel, while a burial is the placement of an unembalmed body in a designated green burial cemetery.



The market for green funeral processes is only expected to grow in the coming years. With a market share of roughly $571 million in 2021, the compound annual growth rate of green burial practices is expected to be 8.7% until 2030. In 2021, human composting reportedly accounted for the largest global revenue share.



Today we discuss “flow of body” at our terramation or human composting facility



At Return Home Terramation, a human composting service based in Washington State, the process begins with laying the body onto a table for the family to view, if desired. The body then gets bathed by one of the faculty members before being dressed in a custom-made, compostable garment. Afterwards, the body is moved to their composting vessel, where family members are able to gather and place letters, cards, or other compostable memorabilia for their loved ones into the box. The body is then covered with the remaining organics needed for compost and is left to turn into soil, lasting roughly 30 days or less.


The soil is then screened for inorganic material and placed into a cube to rest and cool for another 30 days. After this, the “life-giving” soil then either returns to the family or is scattered at The Woodland.



“Our process is the most transparent, gentle, and ethical, showing love and kindness to everyone that comes to our facility,” their website explains. “The Terramation process ensures your last act on earth is one that gives back to it by returning life-giving soil to the earth.”


nypost.com/2023/02/18/human-composting-on-the-rise-as-green-funerals-become-increasingly-popular/



Check out the website to Return Home:  returnhome.com/