What Is Human Composting?

Natural organic reduction (NOR), also known as human composting, supercharges the process of going from human to dirt. It uses a system similar to backyard composting, relying on microbes, oxygen, and plant matter to transform human remains into soil that can support new life. This process was developed and first offered by Katrina Spade through the public-benefit corporation Recompose. As legalization spreads, other companies have also begun providing NOR services.

During NOR, a body is laid in a large, individual vessel with straw, wood chips, and other natural materials. The decomposing process generates heat exceeding 131 degrees F, which kills viruses, bacteria, and pathogens. It also stabilizes heavy metals rather than volatilizing them, or releasing them into the atmosphere. (Testing has shown that the compost resulting from NOR is well below Environmental Protection Agency limits for heavy metals.)

Microorganisms involved in the decomposition process break down the smelly gases into water and CO₂. In addition, biofilters and mechanical ventilation are used to aerate the process and ensure there is no smell.

The process to transform the whole body into soil, including bones and teeth, takes approximately eight to 12 weeks.

[The rich compost] can be divided among family members and used to nurture plants, trees, and home gardens. It can also be donated to conservation spaces for rehabilitation of natural habitats. Because it produces such a large amount of compost, the carbon offset is significant.

When complete, you’re left with about one cubic yard of rich compost — almost enough to fill a compact pickup truck bed — that is indistinguishable from other compost. It can be divided among family members and used to nurture plants, trees, and home gardens. It can also be donated to conservation spaces for rehabilitation of natural habitats. Because it produces such a large amount of compost, the carbon offset is significant.

Still, notes Woosley, human composting was not designed to be a substitute for green burial. “It was meant to be an alternative for densely populated areas where green burial is not possible,” she emphasizes. “Imagine dying in Manhattan — you would have to go hours to get to a place where green burial is possible. NOR is, at its best, an urban green-burial option.”

Human composting is currently available in 11 states, with legalization in a 12th — California — slated to go into effect in 2027. In the states where NOR is legal, human composting facilities are licensed, highly regulated, and run by professionals, just like a crematorium or funeral home.