The New York State Legislature has passed a bill (S.5535/A.382) that allows the composting of human bodies, that is, their transformation into fertilizer.
Once signed by the state governor, Kathy Hochul, the measure will take effect after 90 days, which would allow New York to follow the legal steps already taken by Washington, Colorado and Oregon in relation to this practice.
The new law would allow the biological decomposition of corpses to be carried out in an above-ground container, until the human remains are composted.
The authors of the bill believe that composting is a more ecological and economical way to treat the bodies of deceased people than cremation or burial, since the remains quickly decompose in elevated containers until they become soil.
“A more proper method for eggshells”
Meanwhile, the New York State Catholic Conference has opposed the measure, saying the procedure subverts the idea that the human body should be treated with dignity and respect.
“While not everyone shares the same beliefs regarding the reverent and respectful treatment of human remains, we believe there are many New Yorkers who would be uncomfortable, to say the least, with this proposed composting/fertilizing method, which is more suited to grass clippings. vegetables and egg shells than for human bodies”, reads a statement from the organization.
