By Tristan Turner
Traditional methods of human disposition, namely burial and cremation, have been a tradition of many cultures for thousands of years.[1] However, the carbon footprint and environmental impact of these traditions had not been considered until relatively recently in the 1990s by the Green Burial Council. [2] They discovered that one cremation uses up to 500 gallons of fuel, and releases up to 250 lbs of CO2 per person. [3] That is the equivalent of driving a car for 400 miles. [4] More than 2 Million people are cremated each year in the United States, and as the costs of traditional burial continue to rise, cremation rates will continue to trend upwards. [5]
Scientists and environmentalists have been working together to find ways to respectfully dispose of human remains while reducing the 360,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide produced each year. [6] One method, which became legal in New York in 2022, is human composting. [7] Human composting, also known as terramation, is a process that breaks down the remains into nutrient-dense soil by speeding up the natural decomposition processes of bacteria and fungi.[8] The body is placed into a chamber with wood chips and straw, and heated for 5-7 weeks.[9] The family can then keep the soil for personal use in a garden or donate it to their local community. [10]
Unfortunately for New Yorkers, as of today September 13th, 2024, there has yet to be an application to construct a human composting facility.[11] Cemetery boards cite a lack of consumer interest because they have yet to apply, but this is a circular argument.[12] Due to the lack of facilities and subsequent lack of advertising for the service, consumers do not know that human composting is an option in New York. Additionally, many consumers who are interested in the procedure know that there is a lack of facilities in New York that can provide it, so they do not ask for it.
A lack of State regulations regarding the requirements of constructed facilities also stands as a roadblock, preventing facilities from opening in New York. The funeral industry is heavily regulated by State and Federal Law. Funeral homes and crematories are statutorily required to have certain rooms, such as a viewing room or chapel, to operate legally.[13] These regulations also require that the rooms be of a certain size and that some rooms cannot be connected.[14] No such regulations exist in the assembly bill that legalized human composting facilities.[15] Cemetery boards are not willing to spend millions of dollars on a facility when there is a precedent of building requirements with this level of specificity. This leaves them with the potential to construct a facility that is not up to code, leaving them unable to operate legally without incurring further renovation costs to bring the facility into compliance.
Overall, as global CO2 levels continue to rise, it is important to provide individuals with an option to lessen their carbon footprint, even after death. Currently, the lack of regulations for human composting facilities leaves New Yorkers unable to do their part to minimize their environmental impact.
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[4]https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/greenhouse-gas-emissions-typical-passenger-vehicle
[7]https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/A382
[8] https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-human-composting
[9]https://recompose.life/faqs/how-does-human-composting-work/
[10] Id.
[11]https://www.timesunion.com/state/article/human-composting-now-legal-remains-elusive-new-18664998.php
[12] Id.
[13]https://regs.health.ny.gov/content/section-775-funeral-establishments
[14]Id.