"On June 11, the Rhode Island House of Representatives approved legislation that would legalize “human composting” as an alternative to traditional burial or cremation. The bill, H7212, now moves to the state Senate for further consideration.

Human Composting vs. Climate Change

The proposed legislation aims to establish guidelines for the operation of facilities dedicated to so-called natural organic reduction (NOR), a process of converting human remains into soil. This process is performed in specialized facilities equipped with vessels. Deceased bodies are placed in these vessels along with organic materials like wood chips and straw. The chambers maintain a warm temperature between 130 and 160 degrees and regularly blend the contents over four to seven weeks. This environment allows microbes and heat to transform the remains into about a cubic yard of compost.

According to the press release posted by a principal author of the bill, Rep. Michelle McGaw (D), “human composting” is a way to reduce someone’s “carbon footprint” even after that person is no more:

Natural organic reduction is the contained, accelerated conversion of human remains to soil, performed in a disposition facility. Sometimes called “human composting,” it is an option that is increasingly being chosen by those who would prefer to lessen their impact on the environment when they have reached the end of their life.

She added,

Not everyone is comfortable with the impact of burial, which occupies land, or cremation, which emits a significant amount [of] carbon. Natural organic reduction is a greener alternative that may be preferable for those concerned about how their final wishes affect the planet.

According to the Rhode Island advocacy group “Recompose,” which provides the service for $7,000 per body, choosing a “human composting” service over traditional burial or cremation can prevent one metric ton of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere per person, which is, apparently, “equivalent to the CO2 emissions of driving 2,481 miles or 1,102 pounds of coal.”

The group, as did McGaw, argues that “current funerary practices are environmentally problematic,” as cremation relies on burning fossil fuels, releasing carbon dioxide and particulates into the air. Conventional burial, on the other hand, consumes urban land, pollutes the soil, and contributes to climate change through the resource-intensive production and transportation of burial auxiliaries such as caskets, headstones, and grave liners, the organization laments."

https://thenewamerican.com/us/rhode-island-house-passes-bill-to-legalize-human-composting/?mc_cid=6728ca0bb5&mc_eid=79bc903401