"In the final season of life, some people are choosing to return their remains directly to the soil. Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery is set to become the first on the East Coast to implement "Natural Organic Reduction," also known as human composting, or "terramation." It's considered an environmentally conscious alternative to traditional burial or cremation. The practice has been legal in a handful of states and was legalized in New York since 2022."
"Under the process, remains are placed in a vessel full of organic material. Over several weeks, they are transformed into soil that can be used to nourish the cemetery's plant life. "They sit in a pod for 40 days, and over that time, and with some gentle rocking, the whole entire pod becomes earth. And that's earth that we use to sustain our landscape," Joshi said."
Green-Wood Cemetery plans to offer Natural Organic Reduction (human composting, terramation) beginning in 2027, pending approval from the New York State Cemetery Board. The process places human remains in vessels filled with organic material; after roughly 40 days with occasional agitation the contents transform into soil that can nourish the cemetery landscape. The practice became legal in New York in 2022 and has been allowed in several states. Interest is driven by environmental concerns, urban land constraints, and desires for sustainable memorial choices. Green-Wood is partnering with Meine Erde, and some religious leaders oppose the practice.
Read at Cbsnews
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