Human composting

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Human composting (also known as soil transformation [1] ) is a process for the final disposition of human remains in which microbes convert a deceased body into compost. It is also called natural organic reduction (NOR) or terramation. [2]

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Although the natural decomposition of human corpses into soil is a long-standing practice, a more rapid process that was developed in the early 21st century by Katrina Spade, entails encasing human corpses in wood chips, straw, and alfalfa until thermophile microbes decompose the body. [3] In this manner, the transformation can be sped up to as little as 1–2 months. [3] The accelerated process is based in part on techniques developed for the composting of livestock. [3]

Though human composting was common before modern burial practices and in some religious traditions, contemporary society has tended to favor other disposition methods. However, cultural attention to concerns like sustainability and environmentally friendly burial has led to a resurgence in interest in direct composting of human bodies. [3] Some religious and cultural communities have been critical of this modern composting practice, even though it is in many ways a return to more traditional practices. Human composting is legal in multiple US states, and natural burials without a casket or with a biodegradable container are common practice in Muslim and Jewish traditions and are allowed in the UK, the US, and many other locations throughout the world. [4] [5]

Reception

Proponents say human composting is more economical, environmentally friendly, and respectful of the body and the earth than the methods of disposal that are typically practiced in technologically advanced societies. Cremation uses fossil fuels or large amounts of wood for funeral pyres (both of which generate polluting smoke and release large amounts of carbon), and conventional burial is land-intensive, has a high carbon footprint, and frequently involves disposing of bodily fluids and liquefied organs in the sewer and injecting the body with toxic embalming chemicals. By contrast, human composting, like natural burial, is a natural process and contributes ecological value by preserving the body's nutrient material. [6] Some have argued that "natural organic reduction respects the human body and spirit, supports rather than sullies the earth, and works with nature rather than against it." [7]

Critics say the rapid decomposition process is inappropriate for human bodies. The Catholic Church in the United States, for example has argued that it does not confer the respect due to bodily remains, [8] [9] [10] though other Catholics have maintained that human composting "fulfill[s] in a more direct way the Biblical declaration that we are dust and to dust we shall return (Genesis 3:19)." [11] Orthodox Jewish interpretations of Halakha religious law oppose the sped-up composting process, saying it lacks appropriate reverence for the dead, with the matter under debate in other variations of Judaism. [12] [13]

Muslim burial practices ordinarily involve natural burials without embalming or cremation. They involve prompt washing of the corpse, wrapping it in a simple plain-cloth shroud, and rapid burial without a casket, with some soil placed under the body. Jewish burial practices are very similar. If a casket is used in a Jewish burial, the casket is generally simple and made of unfinished wood, and strictly-observant practice avoids all use of metal; the wood parts of the casket are joined by wood dowels rather than nails. Caskets are not used in Israel.

Washington was the first U.S. state to allow the practice of human composting. [6] [14] [4] Three burial businesses in the state of Washington offer human composting as of December 2022. [12] [5]

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  Jurisdictions in the United States that have legalized human composting

Human composting is legal multiple US states, and natural burials without a casket or with a biodegradable container are allowed in the UK, the US, and many other locations throughout the world. [4]

In the United States, rapid human composting has become legally allowed or approved to become allowed in the future in seven states as of May 2023: [12] [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Compost</span> Mixture used to improve soil fertility

Compost is a mixture of ingredients used as plant fertilizer and to improve soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties. It is commonly prepared by decomposing plant and food waste, recycling organic materials, and manure. The resulting mixture is rich in plant nutrients and beneficial organisms, such as bacteria, protozoa, nematodes, and fungi. Compost improves soil fertility in gardens, landscaping, horticulture, urban agriculture, and organic farming, reducing dependency on commercial chemical fertilizers. The benefits of compost include providing nutrients to crops as fertilizer, acting as a soil conditioner, increasing the humus or humic acid contents of the soil, and introducing beneficial microbes that help to suppress pathogens in the soil and reduce soil-borne diseases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funeral</span> Ceremony for a person who has died

A funeral is a ceremony connected with the final disposition of a corpse, such as a burial or cremation, with the attendant observances. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember and respect the dead, from interment, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honour. Customs vary between cultures and religious groups. Funerals have both normative and legal components. Common secular motivations for funerals include mourning the deceased, celebrating their life, and offering support and sympathy to the bereaved; additionally, funerals may have religious aspects that are intended to help the soul of the deceased reach the afterlife, resurrection or reincarnation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cremation</span> Burning of a dead body as a disposal method

Cremation is a method of final disposition of a dead body through burning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burial</span> The ritual act of placing a dead person or animal into the ground

Burial, also known as interment or inhumation, is a method of final disposition whereby a dead body is placed into the ground, sometimes with objects. This is usually accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing the deceased and objects in it, and covering it over. A funeral is a ceremony that accompanies the final disposition. Evidence suggests that some archaic and early modern humans buried their dead. Burial is often seen as indicating respect for the dead. It has been used to prevent the odor of decay, to give family members closure and prevent them from witnessing the decomposition of their loved ones, and in many cultures it has been seen as a necessary step for the deceased to enter the afterlife or to give back to the cycle of life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Decomposition</span> Process in which organic substances are broken down into simpler organic matter

Decomposition or rot is the process by which dead organic substances are broken down into simpler organic or inorganic matter such as carbon dioxide, water, simple sugars and mineral salts. The process is a part of the nutrient cycle and is essential for recycling the finite matter that occupies physical space in the biosphere. Bodies of living organisms begin to decompose shortly after death. Animals, such as earthworms, also help decompose the organic materials. Organisms that do this are known as decomposers or detritivores. Although no two organisms decompose in the same way, they all undergo the same sequential stages of decomposition. The science which studies decomposition is generally referred to as taphonomy from the Greek word taphos, meaning tomb. Decomposition can also be a gradual process for organisms that have extended periods of dormancy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embalming</span> Method of preserving human remains

Embalming is the art and science of preserving human remains by treating them to forestall decomposition. This is usually done to make the deceased suitable for viewing as part of the funeral ceremony or keep them preserved for medical purposes in an anatomical laboratory. The three goals of embalming are sanitization, presentation, and preservation, with restoration being an important additional factor in some instances. Performed successfully, embalming can help preserve the body for many years. Embalming has a long, cross-cultural history, with many cultures giving the embalming processes religious meaning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burial at sea</span> Method of burial

Burial at sea is the disposal of human remains in the ocean, normally from a ship, boat or aircraft. It is regularly performed by navies, and is done by private citizens in many countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burial vault (enclosure)</span> Container that encloses a coffin

A burial vault is a container, formerly made of wood or brick but more often today made of metal or concrete, that encloses a coffin to help prevent a grave from sinking. Wooden coffins decompose, and often the weight of earth on top of the coffin, or the passage of heavy cemetery maintenance equipment over it, can cause the casket to collapse and the soil above it to settle.

Promession is an idea of how to dispose human remains by way of freeze drying. The concept of promession was developed by Swedish biologist Susanne Wiigh-Mäsak, who derived the name from the Italian word for "promise" (promessa). She founded Promessa Organic AB in 1997 to commercially pursue her idea. The company went bankrupt in 2015 without being able to produce a functioning facility. The idea of promession is questioned and not a functional method according to critics.

Disposal of human corpses, also called final disposition, is the practice and process of dealing with the remains of a deceased human being. Disposal methods may need to account for the fact that soft tissue will decompose relatively rapidly, while the skeleton will remain intact for thousands of years under certain conditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natural burial</span> Method of burial

Natural burial is the interment of the body of a dead person in the soil in a manner that does not inhibit decomposition but allows the body to be naturally recycled. It is an alternative to typical contemporary Western burial methods and modern funerary customs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embalming chemicals</span> Chemicals that prevent body decomposition

Embalming chemicals are a variety of preservatives, sanitising and disinfectant agents, and additives used in modern embalming to temporarily prevent decomposition and restore a natural appearance for viewing a body after death. A mixture of these chemicals is known as embalming fluid and is used to preserve bodies of deceased persons for both funeral purposes and in medical research in anatomical laboratories. The period for which a body is embalmed is dependent on time, expertise of the embalmer and factors regarding duration of stay and purpose.

Mos Teutonicus was a postmortem funerary custom used in Europe in the Middle Ages as a means of transporting, and solemnly disposing of, the bodies of high-status individuals. Nobles would often undergo Mos Teutonicus since their burial plots were often located far away from their place of death. The process involved the removal of the flesh from the body, so that the bones of the deceased could be transported hygienically from distant lands back home.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water cremation</span> Body decomposition process

Alkaline hydrolysis is a process for the disposal of human and pet remains using lye and heat, and is an alternative to burial or cremation.

The death care industry in the United States includes companies and organizations that provide services related to death: funerals, cremation or burial, and memorials. This includes for example funeral homes, coffins, crematoria, cemeteries, and headstones. The death care industry within the U.S. consists mainly of small businesses, although there has been considerable consolidation over time.

The Funeral Rule, enacted by the Federal Trade Commission on April 30, 1984, and amended effective 1994, is a U.S. federal regulation designed to protect consumers by requiring that they receive adequate information concerning the goods and services they may purchase from a funeral provider.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funeral practices and burial customs in the Philippines</span> Customs for the dead commonly practiced in the Philippines

During the Pre-Hispanic period the early Filipinos believed in a concept of life after death. This belief, which stemmed from indigenous ancestral veneration and was strengthened by strong family and community relations within tribes, prompted the Filipinos to create burial customs to honor the dead through prayers and rituals. Due to different cultures from various regions of the Philippines, many different burial practices have emerged. For example, the Manobos buried their dead in trees, the Ifugaos seated the corpse on a chari before it was brought to a cave and buried elsewhere. The most common forms of traditional burials are supine pits, earthenware jars, and log coffins, and have been a topic of interest among Philippine archaeologists since the early 20th century.

Recompose is a public benefit corporation founded by designer and death care advocate Katrina Spade in 2017, building upon her 2014 non-profit organization Urban Death Project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corpse decomposition</span> Process in which bodies break down

Decomposition is the process in which the organs and complex molecules of animal and human bodies break down into simple organic matter over time. In vertebrates, five stages of decomposition are typically recognized: fresh, bloat, active decay, advanced decay, and dry/skeletonized. Knowing the different stages of decomposition can help investigators in determining the post-mortem interval (PMI). The rate of decomposition of human remains can vary due to environmental factors and other factors. Environmental factors include temperature, burning, humidity, and the availability of oxygen. Other factors include body size, clothing, and the cause of death.

References

  1. ↑ "What is soil transformation?". Earth. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  2. ↑ Helmore, Edward (January 1, 2023). "New York governor legalizes human composting after death". The Guardian .
  3. 1 2 3 4 Prasad, Ritu (January 30, 2019). "How do you compost a human body – and why would you?". BBC News .
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Washington becomes first US state to legalise human composting". BBC News . May 21, 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Tracker: Where Is Human Composting Legal In The US?". Earth. August 19, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Kuta, Sarah. "California Has Legalized Human Composting". Smithsonian Magazine . Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Opinion: For a More Sustainable Afterlife, Try Human Composting". Undark . August 18, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  8. ↑ Molina, Alejandra (July 12, 2021). "Amid Catholic opposition, states are legalizing composting of human remains". Religion News Service .
  9. 1 2 Molina, Alejandra (September 20, 2022). "California legalizes human composting bill against opposition by Catholic bishops". Religion News Service . Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Composting of Human Bodies: Memorandum of Opposition". New York State Catholic Conference. February 28, 2020. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020.
  11. ↑ "The Catholic case to support NY's human composting bill". National Catholic Reporter . December 20, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 Ain, Stewart (December 9, 2022). "Jewish law forbids human composting, but for some Jews it's the way to go". The Forward . Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  13. ↑ "'We're all going to turn to dust': Body composting a 'green' alternative to burial and cremation". Australian Broadcasting Corporation . September 25, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Maysoon, Khan (December 31, 2022). "New York OKs human composting law; 6th state in US to do so". AP News .
  15. ↑ Sallinger, Marc (September 23, 2021). "Body composting begins in Colorado, after state legalizes this alternative to burial or cremation". KUSA . Lafayette. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  16. ↑ Arden, Amanda (July 8, 2022). "Oregon's human composting law now in effect. Here's what could come next". KOIN . Portland. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Scott signs eight bills into law, vetoes environmental bill H606". Vermont Business Magazine. June 2, 2022. Archived from the original on June 9, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  18. ↑ Chamings, Andrew (September 19, 2022). "California just legalized 'human composting'. Not everyone is happy". San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Nevada Legalizes Human Composting!". Return Home. June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
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