New Jersey adopts human composting as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional burials and cremation.
New Jersey recently joined the growing list of states to legalize human composting, marking a significant shift in the landscape of end-of-life choices. Gov. Phil Murphy signed the legislation into law last week, allowing funeral homes and other facilities to offer this environmentally sustainable option, formally known as natural organic reduction. This innovative process transforms human remains into nutrient-rich soil, which can then be utilized to foster new plant life, an option that resonates with the increasing desire for eco-friendly burial methods.
The passage of this legislation reflects a collaborative effort between state lawmakers and the New Jersey Funeral Directors Association. The initiative gained traction in response to rising interest in alternative death care practices across the state. Scheduled to take effect next year, this law will enable individuals and families to consider human composting without the inconvenience of transporting remains to states where the practice was previously legal, such as Washington and Oregon.
Historically, residents of New Jersey seeking human composting services had to rely on cremation or traditional burial methods or travel out of state to access the more environmentally-conscious alternative. Companies like Earth Funeral, which specialize in this form of body disposition, continue to gain traction, with increasing awareness among the public of the environmental benefits the process offers.
Human composting involves placing the body in a specialized vessel with organic materials like straw and wood chips. This mixture, combined with warm air, facilitates a natural decomposition process that yields soil over several weeks. While human composting takes longer than both cremation and traditional burial, its advocates argue that it is a more sustainable option. This method not only conserves land but also minimizes greenhouse gas emissions associated with decomposing human remains, which have increasingly come under scrutiny in discussions on environmental impact.
In its pursuit of sustainability, New Jersey’s legalization of human composting comes in the wake of similar legislative changes in New York, where the process was legalized in 2022. Although New York currently lacks facilities conducting natural organic reduction, partnerships with out-of-state facilities enable New Yorkers to access this option. Collectively, New Jersey and New York join a total of 12 states that have embraced this practice, reflecting a growing trend toward more sustainable and compassionate end-of-life choices across the United States.
The move is expected to further catalyze discussions surrounding dying and bereavement, fostering a culture that is increasingly attuned to environmental sustainability and innovative approaches to death care.
