Washington State Legalizes
Composting Human Remains Legislation signed in on May 22 has made
Washington the first state to allow composting
as an alternative to burying human remains. Licensed facilities will now be able to offer
“natural organic reduction,” which turns a
body into soil in the span of a few weeks. The process uses a combination of wood chips, alfalfa
and straw to create a mixture of nitrogen and carbon,
which in turn accelerate natural decomposition. Supporters believe it to be an environmentally
friendly alternative to cremations and burials, as it does not involve the release of carbon dioxide
or the use of groundwater polluting chemicals. Composting will also help alleviate the growing
issue of indestructible coffins taking up large
amounts of already scarce cemetery land. The law will take effect in May 2020 and also
includes the addition of alkaline hydrolysis,
a process already legalized in 19 states. Alkaline hydrolysis uses heat, pressure,
water and chemicals to reduce remains.