Monday 20 February 2023

Ashes to Ashes: Compost to Compost?

The current common techniques used for disposing of human bodies, have obvious environmental downsides. Burying in a casket takes up prime land, that could be used for other purposes e.g. agriculture, house building etc. Cremation generates the 'greenhouse gases', which drive climate change.It's been claimed that "Americans are looking for greener ways to die". Human composting may be one answer (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/feb/19/human-composting-industry-deathcare). New York has become the 6th state to legalise composting human bodies, as a means of disposal. Human composting uses heat and oxygen, to accelerate the conversion of the body into soil. It consequently is not without environmental impacts. The technique, however, does not take up masses of space for extended periods and generates far fewer emissions than cremation. The generated soil can also be used to grow plants. Not a bad 'legacy'. Lucrative funeral industries across the globe, however, may become less happy, if composting becomes trendy?

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