Washington will permit human composting starting in May 2020, becoming the first state to allow the process in lieu of burial or cremation.
Presidential hopeful Gov. Jay Inslee approved legislation Tuesday that recognizes “national organic reduction” and “liquid cremation.” Human remains are transformed over the course of several weeks into soil as they are mixed with wood chips and straw.
“It gives meaning and use to what happens to our bodies after death,” said Nora Menkin, executive director of the People’s Memorial Association based out of Seattle.
The soil can be used by family members to spread like they would ashes, or they can use it to grow plants. The process is similar to cremation, but composting does not omit carbon dioxide particles.
Inslee, who has made the environment a key pillar in his presidential campaign, argued he is the only Democratic candidate who would make climate change his top priority if elected when he unveiled his 2020 campaign.
“We’re the first generation to feel the sting of climate change, and we’re the last that can do something about it,” Inslee said in his campaign announcement.
Inslee is running in the Democratic primary against candidates including former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
