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