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Headshot of <span class="author-name text-name1">Alex Peebles</span>
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U.S.

Human composting taking root in more American states

Headshot of <span class="author-name text-name1">Alex Peebles</span>
Alex Peebles Reporter
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Natural organic reduction, better known as human composting, is an alternative to a traditional burial. Washington was the first state to legalize the process, followed by Colorado and now Oregon. More states have also introduced human composting legislation.

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Gwen Baumgardner:

FIVE MORE STATES, ARE LOOKING TO LEGALIZE HUMAN COMPOSTING. BEFORE YOU CHECK YOUR LAWN FERTILIZER…BEFORE YOU GET GROSSED OUT…LET’S GET THIS STRAIGHT.

NATURAL ORGANIC REDUCTION, BETTER KNOWN AS HUMAN COMPOSTING, IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO A TRADITIONAL BURIAL.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT COMPOSTING, WE THINK OF LEFTOVER FOOD BEING USED TO CREATE RICH SOIL. HUMAN COMPOSTING HAS THE SAME PREMISE, ONLY INSTEAD OF FOOD…WELL, YOU BECOME THAT RICH SOIL.

YOUR CORPSE MIXES WITH ORGANIC MATERIALS INSIDE A CHAMBER LIKE THIS. THEN WITH SOME HEAT, MICROBES, AND OXYGEN….VOILA, YOU’RE NOW PLANT FOOD.

COMPOSTING COMPANY ‘RECOMPOSE’ SAYS THE PROCESS TAKES ABOUT A MONTH AND COSTS ABOUT 55-HUNDRED DOLLARS.

THE SOIL CAN EITHER BE DONATED TO A CONSERVATION FOREST OR GIVEN TO THE  FAMILY.

THIS WOMAN, KATRINA SPADE, CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF HUMAN COMPOSTING, SAYING IT’S A GREENER WAY TO GO…REQUIRING ABOUT 1/8 THE ENERGY OF BURIAL OR CREMATION.

THE DEATH TO DIRT CONCEPT HASN’T GROWN ON EVERYONE. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CALLS THE PROCESS ‘UNDIGNIFIED’. OTHERS THINK IT’S JUST PLAIN WEIRD.

MEANWHILE, IS HUMAN COMPOSTING SOMETHING YOU WOULD CONSIDER? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.