The movement towards more eco-friendly burial options is slow moving. For example, aquamation, or alkaline hydrolysis, is legal in 24 states as of 2022. The water cremation process has been growing in popularity, and now we have an additional green burial option that may appeal to those not interested in cremation.
When I say, “human composting,” what are your initial reactions? Did you grimace picturing an irreverent decomposition? While the name may instigate less than ideal imagery, the process in reality is respectful and beautiful in its cyclicality. Recompose is a company based in Seattle, WA that offers the service of human composting in lieu of a traditional burial or cremation. The process is powered by beneficial microbes that naturally occur in our bodies and the environment.
Human Composting, Say What?
Recompose is not a DIY or at-home kit. Instead your body is laid to rest in a vessel at the Recompose headquarters surrounded by wood chips, alfalfa, and straw. Within 4-7 weeks, “microbes power change on the molecular level resulting in the formation of nutrient-dense soil.” There is an addition 3-5 week required for cure time before the soil is ready to be used for conservation lands, forests, or gardens.
Similar to Let Your Love Grow, you can turn death into something beautiful. If you don’t have a specific place in mind, Recompose partners with the Bells Mountain wilderness conservation as a final resting place. The heathy soil helps revitalize wetlands, riparian habitats, local plants, and vulnerable wildlife species. While human composting has only been legalized in 6 states, more are on the way. If you are not local to Seattle, Recompose will work with a local funeral home to coordinate transportation to their facilities.
What do you think about human composting? Let us know in the comments below!
