Cremation and burial are the most common methods of disposing of human remains after death. But
How it works?
In the process of natural reduction, the body is placed ina specially created container so that it can compost and form soil. According to NBC News, this is exactly what a resident of the American state of Colorado decided to do with his body after death. His remains were kept in a chamber with wood chips, alfalfa, straw and a variety of microorganisms for six months at The Natural Funeral Company site.
Documentary video about "green" funerals
After placing the body in the vessel, the temperature incapacity starts to increase. This keeps it sterile, protecting it from unwanted bacteria and allowing more controlled decomposition of the body. Over a period of four to six months, the entire vessel turns into approximately 1 m³ of rich organic soil.
What can be done with human soil?
According to current US laws, soil cannot beused to grow food for human consumption or sale. Also, it cannot be mixed with soil from the remains of another person. This requires pre-agreed permission, according to an NBC News report.
As a result, the family and friends of the person who was buried in this way scatter the earth. But not just anywhere in Colorado's specially designed burial sanctuary.
It is legal?
In May 2021, the state governor legalizedthe process of body composting as a greener alternative to cremation and traditional burial. In addition to Colorado, this process was allowed in Washington state back in 2019. And last year, the city of Seattle officially opened the first waste management company in the United States to offer composting services, Recompose.
Other states such as California, Delaware,Hawaii, Vermont and New York are already considering legalizing green funerals. They have prepared similar bills that are at the consideration stage. Previous attempts to legalize the process in Maine were unsuccessful.
How much does it cost?
According to NBC News, such a green funeral costs from $ 7,000. This is many times more expensive than a standard funeral or cremation in price.
Is there such a service in Russia?
In 2017, Swedish experts shared withRussian ritualists with a project to quickly turn bodies into compost. The body of the deceased is frozen, and then immersed in liquid nitrogen and subjected to vibration. Metal fragments are sifted out from the resulting mass and the human compost is ready. But Russian clients were not ready for this.
Also in Russia, Novosibirsk, the first “promatorium” was supposed to appear, but the project has not yet been implemented.
However, there is a Voyager company thatoffers custom funeral services including biodegradable coffins, mushroom spore bioshrouds, and sea reef burials. However, they are much more expensive than "standard" ceremonies.
But so far, eco-friendly funerals are not popular in Russia.
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