USA: New York authorizes the composting of bodies after death

WASHINGTON (ANSA).- New York has become the sixth state in the United States to allow so-called human compostingthat means, the transformation of a corpse into earth: a green burial that is considered an environmentally friendly alternative to burial or cremation.

However, local Catholic bishops have spoken out against it, arguing that human bodies they should not be treated as “household waste”.

The measure was signed by Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul. The first state to legalize this practice was Washington in 2019, followed by Colorado, Oregon, Vermont and California.

The call “organic natural reduction” consists of letting a body decompose for approx one month after closing it in a container with wood shavings, alfalfa and forage.

The land obtained it is given to relatives of the deceased, who can use it to plant flowers, vegetables or trees.

This is ensured by companies in the sector the cost (about $7,000) is competitive with a funeral with burial or cremation and thus avoid producing carbon dioxide and consuming forests, land and other natural resources.

THE NATION