Ashes To Ashes – A New Bill Would Allow For The Composting Of Human Remains

What will happen to your body when you die?

It could be cremated, or it could be buried. And soon, in California, composting might be an option as well.

Last week, Bell Gardens Assemblymember Cristina Garcia introduced a bill to allow for human remains to be reduced to soil. Under her proposed guidelines, bodies would be put in compostable vessels where they are decomposed, with the resulting matter returned to the person's loved ones.

That matter could be used to plant trees.

"I think of... where I would want my family to visit me, and the idea of a tree and nature — nature and trees are something that bring serenity to me and represent love to me,” said Garcia.

Washington was the first state in the country to allow for human composting of remains. Their law goes into effect on May 1, 2020.

READ MORE:

• Compost your departed loved one and save the planet, L.A. lawmaker says (Los Angeles Times)
• Washington becomes first state to legalize human composting (The Seattle Times)