For those beginning their end-of-life planning, numerous sustainable options are available, including Memorial Trees, water cremation, and human composting. Human composting is a process that respectfully returns our bodies to the earth, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional burial or cremation methods while enriching the soil.
But what states allow human composting? This guide explores the states where human composting is legal, providing you with valuable information to consider for yourself or a loved one as you explore this greener path to rest in peace.
What is Human Composting?
Known as natural organic reduction, it’s a process where human remains are transformed into nutrient-rich soil, a practice that offers a return to the earth in the most natural way possible.
During the process, the body is placed in a vessel containing organic materials like straw, wood chips, and alfalfa plant. Over several weeks, microbial activity breaks down the inorganic body, resulting in soil that can support plant life and rejuvenate the landscape.This method provides an eco-friendly alternative to traditional burial with a funeral home or traditional cremation and reduces the carbon footprint, avoiding the emissions associated with cremation and the land use of conventional burials.
The growing interest in sustainable end-of-life options reflects a broader shift towards environmental stewardship. People are choosing legacies that align with their ecological values, and human composting is one of many eco-friendly memorial options.
Where is Human Composting Legal?
In the United States, states where human composting is legal include:
- Washington (2019)
- Colorado (2021)
- Oregon (2021)
- Vermont (2022)
- California (2022)
- New York (2022)
- Nevada (2023)
- Arizona (2024)
- Maryland (2024)
- Delaware (2024)
- Minnesota (2024)
- Maine (2024)
- Georgia (2025)
- New Jersey (2025)
Several more states have bills in progress. Rhode Island’s passed the House in May 2026 and moved to the Senate, Illinois and Utah both have live legislation, and Ohio’s bill is in committee. Oklahoma’s passed both chambers in 2026 before being vetoed by the governor.
Is human composting available everywhere it’s legal?
A state passing a law doesn’t mean you can use the service there yet. Once legislation passes, regulators have to write the rules that go with it — facility licensing, operator certification, temperature and record-keeping standards, and what can be done with the finished soil. Depending on the state, that can take anywhere from six months to five years.
California is the clearest example. The law passed in 2022, but natural organic reduction doesn’t become available until January 2027 — a five-year gap between legal and operational. Minnesota legalized in 2024 with the law taking effect in July 2025, and Georgia’s 2025 law took effect that July.
So if you’re planning ahead, it’s worth checking two things: whether your state has legalized natural organic reduction, and whether a licensed facility is actually operating there. Better Place offers natural organic reduction and will offer it in California as soon as it’s available — talk to a Guide about what’s possible where you live.
Can I choose human composting if I live in a state where it isn’t legal yet?
You can choose human composting from most states by working with a provider to arrange for transport to a state with a legal facility.
Better Place offers natural organic reduction as one of three carbon-neutral cremation options, and handles the logistics — transportation, death certificates, permits and filing — as part of the arrangement. The resulting soil can be returned to the earth at a private Memorial Tree or in a shared Spreading Grove in one of our nine Memorial Forests, with a Nature Memorial Ceremony where family and friends can take part. Talk to a Guide about what’s available in your state.
Why are more states legalizing human composting?
The spread of these laws has been shaped by a few forces working together.
Environmental Advocacy
Environmentalists and green burial advocates have played a significant role in educating the public and legislators about the benefits of human composting, emphasizing its role in reducing carbon emissions and conserving land.
Public Support
As awareness of eco-friendly alternatives grows, public support for human composting has increased, influencing lawmakers to consider and pass legislation in favor of this method.
Legislative Change
IStates tend to move once a neighbor does. Washington in 2019 was followed by Colorado and Oregon in 2021, then Vermont, California, and New York in 2022 — a regional pattern that has largely held since.
Cultural Shifts
A cultural shift towards more personalized and meaningful end-of-life options has also contributed to the legal changes, as individuals seek ways to align their final choices with their environmental values.
Research and Development
Ongoing research into the science of human composting has provided evidence of its safety and efficacy, helping to alleviate concerns and pave the way for legal acceptance.
The legalization process in each state has involved a careful balancing of ethical considerations, environmental impacts, and respect for personal choice. As this trend continues, we may see more states joining the list of those that allow human composting, offering individuals the choice to leave a legacy that honors their lives and the natural world they leave behind.
What do State Regulations cover?
With more US states opening the doors to human composting, understanding and adhering to each state’s specific regulations and requirements is important. These guidelines are in place to ensure that the process is carried out with respect for the deceased and mindful consideration of our environment:
- Certification of Facilities: States that allow human composting require facilities to be certified, ensuring they meet health and safety standards for the process.
- Process Oversight: Regulations often stipulate how the composting process should be managed, from the mixture of materials used to the conditions maintained within the composting vessels.
- End Product Handling: Rules are set for how the resulting soil can be used, often allowing families to use it in personal gardens or donate it to conservation projects, but with restrictions to prevent misuse.
- Record-Keeping: Facilities must keep detailed records of their operations, ensuring transparency and accountability in the handling of remains.
- Consumer Protections: States have put in place measures to protect consumers, ensuring they are informed about the process and their rights, and that costs are communicated clearly.
- Environmental Safeguards: Regulations also include environmental protections, such as preventing the contamination of water sources and ensuring the composting process does not harm local ecosystems.
With human composting now a legal choice in a growing number of states, offering a path for those who wish to leave the world as gently as they lived in it. This option speaks to our deeper connection with the earth and represents a thoughtful approach to our lasting impact.
