Alternatives To Burial: Human Composting

Currently, thirteen states have legalized human composting. In 2019, Washington was the first to allow for the composting of human remains, also referred to as biological decomposition, soil transformation, or natural organic reduction. Seattle-based Recompose was the first facility in the world to turn human remains into soil. 

Following the lead Washington set with its initial laws, each state legally imposes licensing for facilities, health regulations to ensure public safety, and required testing of reduced remains for contaminants. All state laws do not allow the reduced remains, or soil, to be used to grow food for human consumption. However, the soil can be used to fertilize trees, shrubs, flowers, open lands or house plants. Many companies allow families to participate in the process, as well. However, laws that govern human composting may otherwise vary by state, so it is best to check the legal status where you live if pursuing this option for yourself or a loved one.

Colorado was the second state to legalize human composting with its law enacted on August 8, 2021. Natural Funeral in Boulder County was the first company to provide body composting in the state in March 2022. They later hosted the first National Body Composting Conference in March 2023. Georgia was the most recent state to legalize human composting in May, 2025.

Several other states that passed laws in recent years do not yet have approved facilities in place. As of March of 2025, facilities are operating in five states: Washington, Oregon, Colorado Arizona and Nevada. And while California passed its legislation in September 2022, human composting will not be legally available until 2027 to allow companies ample time to establish regulated practices within the state.

However, some established companies in nearby states offer services for those willing to travel. Recompose has served dozens of residents from numerous states, including California, Florida, New York, and Arizona and will continue to do so. And Earth Funeral, located in Auburn, Washington, extends its services to California. 

Legislators throughout the United States have begun to recognize the need for laws as this eco-friendly non-burial option continues to grow. Several other states have introduced similar bills to allow for human composting. 

Sources

“Tracker: Where Is Human Composting Legal In The US?” Earth. https://earthfuneral.com/resources/tracker-where-human-composting-legal/ 

“AB-351 Reduction of human remains and the disposition of reduced human remains”. California Legislative Information. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB351 

“SB21-006: Human Remains Natural Reduction Soil”. Colorado General Assembly. https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-006

“SB 5001 – 2019-20: Concerning human remains”. Washington State Legislature. https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5001&Initiative=false&Year=2019 

“Where is Human Composting Legal?” Recompose. https://recompose.life/human-composting/legal-status/ 

Human composting can cost up to several thousand dollars, depending on a few factors. These factors include the process used for composting, the location of the facility, and additional services offered by the facility. For example, some facilities include different pricing tiers and packages based on the level of service requested, such as receiving a portion of the composted remains or including a memorial ceremony prior to the composting process.  

Although human composting is frequently believed to be cheaper than traditional burial, it is typically more expensive than a simple or “direct” cremation. In 2021, the median cost of a funeral with cremation was $6,970 and the median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial was $7,848 (excluding a burial plot and perpetual care of the grave site which typically runs in the thousands of dollars). In comparison, human composting at Recompose costs $7,000. 

As mentioned, costs can vary based on the process used. Return Home in Auburn, Washington, uses a human composting process known as terramation, which it offers for $4,950. Comparably, a facility known as Earth, based in Auburn and Nevada offers a human composting process called soil transformation for $5,000 to $6,000. Each of these facilities also offers additional services to further customize how loved ones are remembered and honored. It’s recommended to research each company’s actual costs carefully, however, as sometimes the stated costs do not include everything.

Since human composting is not yet legal across all states, it is likely that the cost of these services will eventually become more standardized as human composting gains recognition and acceptance. The industry is still actively developing, which also likely contributes to some of the variation in projected costs. Individuals who are interested in pursuing human composting for themselves or a loved one are encouraged to research and contact facilities that provide this service to gain more insight into the specific processes, service options, and associated costs in their area. 

Sources 

“How does the cost of human composting compare to other options?” Recompose. Retrieved from https://recompose.life/faqs/how-does-the-cost-of-human-composting-compare-to-other-options/ 

“Human Composting Can Actually Be More Affordable Than a Traditional Burial — Here’s the Price Breakdown”.  Green Matters. Retrieved from https://www.greenmatters.com/sustainable-living/how-much-is-human-composting 

“Return Home: Human Composting”. Retrieved from https://returnhome.com/ 

“Earth.” Retrieved from https://earthfuneral.com/

Bones and teeth present a unique challenge in the human composting process due to their resilient mineral composition of phosphorus and calcium, two of the strongest elements in the body. Before bones and teeth can break down like the rest of the body, they need to be broken down into smaller pieces. 

During the initial five to seven weeks of composting, the body will gradually transform into soil, leaving only teeth, bones, and inorganic matter in a solid state. At Recompose, the first company to bring human composting to market, the soil is screened to identify solid remnants at approximately the one-month mark. Bones and teeth are removed and then transitioned to specialized equipment that breaks them down into smaller fragments, making them more porous. After the bones and teeth are the appropriate size, they are reincorporated into the soil and set to cure for several weeks.  Their porosity makes these pieces more susceptible to natural decay by the microbial activity associated with composting. As time progresses, these fragments will eventually dissolve completely. 

The reintroduction of the bones and teeth at this point of the composting process helps to enrich the soil further. The phosphorus and calcium present in these elements are released into the soil. This creates a more nutrient-dense environment for plant growth. Slow decomposition of these components provides sustained release of nutrients, ensuring long-term benefits for the soil. These minerals enrich the soil and enhance the structural integrity and vitality of the plants and flowers that will grow in this environment.

Ultimately, human composting is a practice of recycling life to foster new growth and can serve as a testament to the cycle of nature by transforming the end of one life into the beginning of another. 

Sources

“Inside one of the world’s first human composting facilities”. The Verge.

“Human Composter Explains What They Do With Your Bones When You Die”. Lad Bible.

“A literal return to the earth’: is human composting the greenest burial?” The Guardian. 

Generally, most companies that offer natural composting provide families an opportunity to bid farewell to their loved one during the initial process, often referred to as the “laying in” service or ceremony. This is when the body is first placed inside a vessel or pod alongside biodegradable plant materials. This ceremony is similar to a graveside service where families and friends commune to say their final goodbyes as the deceased is laid to rest.

Most companies provide a small intimate space for the laying in ceremony. Although state laws may slightly differ, many encourage hands-on participation in the process for families if they wish to do so.

Families may be allowed to:

• Assist staff in moving loved one’s body into vessel
• Assist staff in covering the body with plant materials (straw, alfalfa, sawdust, etc)
• Place special biodegradable items or hand-written notes inside the vessel
• Decorate the vessels with mementos or photos 

Families might also consider incorporating the following into the ceremony, if allowable:

• Music; soothing or favorite songs
• Candle lighting
• Minister or Spiritual Leader
• Guided breathing or meditation

Some companies also allow families to visit their loved one’s vessel at their facility to grieve at any time during the composting process, which can take up to several months in total. 

An additional, and perhaps the most rewarding, opportunity for families to participate in natural organic reduction occurs after the composting process is complete. When the compost is ready, families can take it home and divide it up to share among themselves. They can use the soil in their own gardens, plant trees or shrubs in local parks, or donate it to a conservation organization. Later, when families visit these places, they will be reminded of their loved one with every bloom or blossom that grows.

Human composting, as it is currently practiced, is arguably the most environmentally friendly form of final disposition available today. It uses no external heat source and produces no carbon emissions: The process of decomposition occurs as microbes in the body interact with the organic material in the vessel where the body is held. Further, the process requires no casket or embalming, and actually sequesters carbon as the compost is created. According to Recompose, between 0.84 and 1.4 tons of carbon dioxide are saved each time a human undergoes natural organic reduction.

Natural organic reduction also produces a safe and usable final product according to research conducted by a team led by Lynn Carpenter-Boggs, M.S.,Ph.D, a Professor of Soil Science at Washington State University. It is based on a well-established technique of closed-vessel livestock mortality composting, which has been in use as a method of sustainably managing livestock mortalities for at least over three decades in the U.S.

Soil Research

When researching the effects of natural organic reduction, Carpenter-Boggs and her team monitored the process on six human research subjects. Plant-based materials were placed in a container above and below the bodies, and moisture, aeration and rotation were managed to ensure conditions were optimal. After four weeks, samples of the resulting material (the compost) were analyzed for concentrations of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as well as heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury and zinc. Measures of the amount of coliform bacteria were also taken, and the stability of the material based on carbon dioxide and ammonium release were assessed. 

The results of the study, as reported by Washington State University and Recompose, showed that natural organic reduction resulted in a product that met or exceeded EPA guidelines for heavy metals, and that chemical and biological analyses were in the acceptable range per EPA rules. Additionally, concentrations of the drug Diazepam, which was introduced into the process, were reduced by 95%. 

With that being said, the process of composting of livestock has not been demonstrated to eliminate prions, which are responsible for a group of fatal diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (for example, mad cow disease in cattle and scrapie in sheep and goats). For this reason, people who have died from a human prion disease such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease cannot be disposed of through natural organic reduction. Additionally, a person who had a diagnosis of either Ebola or active tuberculosis at the time of death is excluded from the process at this time. The WA State Board of Health regulates natural organic reduction in WA State, and has served as the model for other state’s regulations. 

Sources 

“Frequently Asked Questions”. Recompose. https://recompose.life/faqs/#human-composting 

“Composting Animal Mortalities”. Cornell Waste Management Institute. http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/Composting_Animal_Mortalities.pdf 

“Human Composting Soil Research Pilot Study”. Recompose. https://recompose.life/soil-research-pilot-study/ 

“Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease”. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/creutzfeldt-jakob/about/?CDC_AAref_Val 

WA State Natural Organic Reduction Regulations

https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=246-500-055