Inside Track
Rhode Island House Passes Bill to Legalize Human Composting
On June 11, the Rhode Island House of Representatives approved legislation that would legalize “human composting” as an alternative to traditional burial or cremation. The bill, H7212, is awaiting further consideration in the state Senate.
The proposed legislation aims to establish guidelines for the operation of facilities dedicated to so-called natural organic reduction, a process of converting human remains into soil. This process is performed in specialized facilities, where deceased bodies are placed into vessels along with organic materials such as wood chips and straw. The chambers maintain a warm temperature between 130 and 160 degrees and regularly blend the contents over four to seven weeks. This environment allows microbes and heat to transform the remains into about a cubic yard of compost.
According to a press release posted by a principal author of the bill, Representative Michelle McGaw (D), “human composting” is a way to reduce someone’s “carbon footprint” even after that person is no more.
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