New York Becomes 6th State to Allow Human Composting

New York has become the sixth state in the Union to allow what’s commonly known has human composting.

Governor Kathy Hochul signed the law allowing New Yorkers to choose “natural organic reduction” as an option for their remains, after death.

Under this process, a body is put in a reusable vessel along with organic materials like woodchips or straw grass, allowing the body to naturally break down into soil over a period of six to eight weeks. This soil can then be used for planting trees or plants.

Proponents of human composting see it as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional burials or cremations while some religious groups believe this method doesn’t treat the body with respect.