When humans die, they usually face two possible routes through which they can depart from the earthly realm by either being buried or cremated. But what if there is another way? A new way better than the two and more eco-friendly is already available. At the same time, it leaves the surviving loved ones a piece of their late beloved's remains.
That is what the world's first human composting facility aims to do as they transform dead bodies of deceased humans into compost via natural organic reduction or recomposition.
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American schoolteacher Jennifer Bliss and farmer Amigo Bob Cantisano had been together for 15 years before Bob passed away recently. Bliss told The Sun that her husband has a special connection with the planet, and it was both their choice for Bob to be laid to rest as a compost.
They discussed and agreed that human composting was the perfect fit because Bob spent years pushing compost as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers since the 1970s. Jennifer said that her husband was a fierce advocate for the planet and water to leave the least impact he dies. Bob was passionate about what he believed in and knew that their decision would pave the way for other people to consider human composting.
Jennifer recalled that when she picked up her husband's compost from the human composting facility, she felt a profound sense of peace. It has been three months since he passed, and Jennifer already missed him. According to her, touching the soil of his earthly body makes her feel that everything is okay.
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How Does Recomposition Happen in the World's First Human Composting Facility?
Recompose opened its doors in December 2020 in Seattle, Washington, and became the world's first human composting facility. They offer to gently transform human remains into compost in a process called natural organic composting, also known as recomposition.
The company has been in the works for several years before it was legally viable in 2019 when Washington passed a bill for the facility to be the first to offer such a unique alternative in taking care of human remains, Science Alert reported. The law went into effect in May 2020 and enabled a "death-care evolution."
The process of recomposition draws inspiration from natural or green burials, which will take place inside reusable vessels. Recompose explains that bodies are covered with wood chips and aerated to provide the perfect environment for naturally occurring bacteria and microbes.
The body is fully transformed into compost within 30 days and can be used to grow new life. The deceased's family and friends can also take some or all of the cubic yard of soil generated from their departed beloved and use it on their gardens, while the remaining soil will be used for conservation purposes.
The company aims for conservation as it is one of the conditions in the country to let companies like Recompose operate. It is designed to provide a more environment-friendly way of taking care of the remains rather than the traditional burying embalmed bodies or burning remains in cremation that produces a lot of carbon dioxide emissions.
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Check out more news and information on Human Compost in Science Times.