New York on track to become sixth state to approve human composting: Will it become common alternative to cremation or burial?

New York is set to become the sixth state in the U.S. to approve an alternative burial process called Natural Organic Reduction.

The Albany Times Union reports that the process involves decomposing bodies being placed into specialized, above ground containers with other biodegradable materials.

Decomposition takes approximately 30 days. The human remains are broken down into a nutrient-dense soil mixture.

Each human body can produce approximately one cubic yard of compost. A Seattle-based company led the concept.

The process has been approved in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Vermont, and California.

Lawmakers didn’t have much opposition to it, with votes on the proposal passing with ease.

The National Funeral Directors Association estimates that the cremation rate in the U.S. will exceed 50 percent by 2035. This is largely due to costs associated with funerals, and general movement away from those efforts. However, there’s an environmental impact to cremation, which advocates of this new method say will help alleviate.

Staff Report

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