California
on Sunday approved a new, greener burial practice:
humane composting
.
Cremation, which is already the option of choice for almost half of deaths in the US, consumes a large amount of energy and emits CO2, making composting or natural organic reduction a much more environmentally friendly practice.
The bill, drafted by Congresswoman
Cristina García
, allows for the natural organic reduction of human remains in the ground as an ecological alternative to burial.
"With climate change and sea level rise as very real threats to our environment, this is an alternative disposal method that will not contribute to emissions into our atmosphere," Garcia said in a statement to
The Guardian
.
The process consists of
placing the deceased in a steel box filled with biodegradable materials such
as wood and flowers.
Between 30 and 60 days, the body decomposes on the ground and the remains are returned to the relatives so that they can deposit them wherever they see fit.
California is the fifth state to legalize human composting, after
Washington
,
Colorado
,
Vermont
, and
Oregon
.
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