Composting Humans? 14 States Say Yes!

A compost pile filled with various organic materials and flowers

New Jersey’s legalization of human composting represents another step toward normalizing radical environmental policies that prioritize progressive agendas over traditional values and time-honored burial practices.

Story Overview

New Jersey becomes the 14th state to legalize human composting, effective July 2026
The process converts human remains into soil through natural organic reduction over 8-12 weeks
Supporters claim environmental benefits while critics raise concerns about cultural and religious traditions
Regulatory framework still under development with funeral homes preparing for new requirements

Progressive Environmental Agenda Advances in Garden State

Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation in September 2025 making New Jersey the 14th state to legalize human composting, formally known as natural organic reduction. The law takes effect in July 2026, giving funeral homes and regulatory agencies ten months to establish licensing procedures and operational protocols. Senator Joseph Vitale sponsored the bill after introducing initial legislation in February 2023, demonstrating the sustained push for this alternative death care method.

Traditional Burial Methods Face New Competition

The process involves placing human remains in vessels with organic materials like wood chips, alfalfa, and straw to accelerate decomposition into nutrient-rich soil over eight to twelve weeks. Proponents argue this method reduces carbon emissions and land use compared to traditional burial and cremation practices. However, this shift represents a fundamental departure from burial customs that have anchored American communities for generations, potentially undermining cultural continuity and religious observances that many families hold sacred.

Thompson-Stanciel, featured prominently in media coverage, used compost created from her husband’s remains to nourish a houseplant, describing the experience as transformative. While supporters celebrate these personal testimonies, the emphasis on converting human remains into gardening material may strike many as reducing the dignity traditionally accorded to deceased loved ones through established burial practices.

Regulatory Framework Creates New Government Oversight

The New Jersey Board of Mortuary Science will draft regulations and license providers, while the Department of Environmental Protection will inspect and regulate facilities. This expansion of government oversight into death care services represents additional bureaucratic control over personal and family decisions. Funeral homes must invest in new infrastructure and training to offer these services, potentially increasing costs that may be passed on to consumers seeking traditional burial options.

Currently, no operational composting facilities exist in New Jersey, forcing families who choose this method to transport remains out of state. The New Jersey Funeral Directors Association collaborated with lawmakers and West Coast providers during the legislative process, though the long-term economic impact on traditional funeral services remains unclear as the industry adapts to accommodate progressive environmental mandates.

Cultural Implications of Changing Death Practices

This legislation reflects broader cultural shifts away from traditional burial practices rooted in religious and community traditions. While Washington state first legalized human composting in 2019, the rapid expansion to fourteen states demonstrates coordinated efforts to normalize alternative death care methods. Conservative communities may view this trend as part of broader progressive attempts to reshape fundamental aspects of American life, including how families honor and remember their deceased loved ones through established customs.

The emphasis on environmental benefits over traditional values raises questions about whether these policies truly serve families’ needs or primarily advance ideological agendas. As regulatory frameworks develop and facilities become operational, New Jersey residents will determine whether this alternative aligns with their personal beliefs and family traditions regarding the respectful treatment of human remains.