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Answered: What is Human Composting?

Human composting is one of the fastest growing services in the funeral industry, but what is it? Learn the human composting basics with this FAQ.
What is Human Composting?
Soil in a wooden box.

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Natural organic reduction, better known as human composting, is one of the newest alternative forms of body disposition. While the process may seem a bit extreme, it’s actually very gentle. In fact, it’s considered the gentlest form of disposition in terms of minimizing environmental impact

Human composting is the process of putting human remains in a vessel (usually stainless steel) that contains a mixture of straw, alfalfa and other plant materials along with microbes. The microbes allow for quicker natural decomposition compared to burial. 

In the end, the body is completely broken down and all that’s left is nutrient-rich soil that can be used to grow a wide variety of vegetation. 

The process may seem simple, but most people have a lot of questions about exactly what happens during natural organic reduction. Below our team has answered some of the most common questions related to what human composting is and what it entails so you can get a better understanding of this deposition option. 

Can you view the human composting process?

How much the family can do and see in-person is going to be up to the service provider, but most do provide ways for the family to be involved. For example, some facilities hold short services for the family when the body enters the vessel. The family can witness it and even add biodegradable notes that will become part of the soil. Music can be played and a eulogy can be given as well. In this way, natural organic reduction can include viewing and funeral services.

In addition to a service at the beginning, some facilities are open to family members throughout the process. You could drop by at any time to see the vessel that contains your loved one. In this way, natural organic reduction allows the family member to be more involved than burial or cremation. 

How long does it take for a body to compost?

Because natural organic reduction is a natural decomposition process, it takes considerably longer than cremation. Microbes and turning the container periodically help speed up the process, but it’s still going to take 4-6 weeks. 

How long it takes for a body to compost depends on a number of variables, including:

  • Temperature
  • Size of the body
  • pH balance of the soil
  • Moisture levels

However, this is just the first stage of natural organic reduction. There are a few more steps until the process is complete. Typically, it can take another 4-6 weeks before human composting is considered done.

What happens to the bones when human composting?

The microbes break down all of the bodily tissue, but what about the bones? The decomposition of bones takes much longer because of its mineral structure. After 4-6 weeks, the funeral home will do what’s called screening. This is when they shift through the newly formed soil to remove inorganic materials like medical implants as well as bones. 

The bones that are removed can be ground down into something similar to cremains just like with flame cremation and water cremation. But with human organic reduction the cremains might not go back to the family. They could be reintroduced to the human compost soil. The smaller pieces of bone can be consumed by the microbes to break the bone down into compost. That process takes an additional 30 days. 

Adding bones to the soil is actually beneficial. There are many minerals in bone that make the soil more nutrient-rich. 

What Happens to the Soil After Human Composting?

At the end of cremation, there are cremains that the family can receive. That’s still an option with human composting, or the family could receive the soil instead if the bones are added back into the mixture. Many families like this option because they plan to use the compost. Often it’s used to grow a memorial tree or plant. If this is the case, the soil needs to have a pH of 6.5-7 to support the widest variety of plants. 

Some families choose to simply spread the soil across family property in a ceremony that’s similar to scattering cremains. With this option is more about adding the remains back to the earth in a meaningful place. 

What if the family doesn’t want to receive the soil? That’s fine too. The soil can be donated to conservation land or organizations that work on land preservation. 

Whatever option the family chooses there will be ample soil. Typically, a couple hundred pounds of soil is produced from natural organic reduction. 

How many states have legalized human composting?

Right now, a lot of change is happening in the funeral industry that’s largely driven by consumer demand for alternative, eco-friendly services. The concept of human composting was introduced to the world just 10 years ago, but it’s already legalized in six states today. These are the states with the most disposition options.

Washington State was the first to legalize human composting in 2019. Within three years Oregon, Colorado, California, Vermont and New York followed. More states are in the process of legalizing natural organic reduction. Even in Texas there are two bills that would expand disposition options to include more eco-friendly alternatives like water cremation and natural organic reduction. 

The logical argument is that consumers in all states should have all safe disposition options available, not a select few based on the preferences of state legislators and special interest groups. There is also growing concern over the impact that traditional funeral services have on the environment from pollution to the use of land. People want to know their disposition will have a positive effect rather than detracting from the place they call home. 


Would you like to know more about human composting and how to arrange services in Texas? Cremation.Green is at the forefront of the newest alternatives that are healthier and more affordable than traditional funeral services. Our team can provide all the information you need to use whatever type of disposition your family thinks is best. Give us a call, text or email 24 hours a day.

Marlaena Gonzales

Marlaena Gonzales

Funeral Director
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