TRENTON, NJ – Human composting can soon become a legal service offered by undertakers across the state.
A newly introduced bill in New Jersey opens the doors for a more environmentally-conscious option in handling deceased individuals through natural organic reduction. This process will be incorporated under existing regulations for cemetery companies, effectively updating the laws addressing cremation.
Democrat Senator Joseph Vitale introduced the bill.
The bill outlines the specific criteria and guidelines for the creation and regulation of natural organic reduction facilities, and the oversight of the organic reduction process itself.
Among these provisions, the legislation specifies what information a cemetery company must submit to the New Jersey Cemetery Board for approval to construct and operate such a facility.
The bill details how a facility must manage the transfer of remains and the reduction process, while also authorizing the board to conduct inspections to ensure compliance.
The introduction of natural organic reduction, also known as human composting, marks a progressive step in offering alternatives to traditional burial and cremation. It is seen as a potential pathway to lessen the environmental impact of death care practices.
The bill now awaits further debate and analysis in the legislative process, and its potential passage may set a precedent for other states to consider similar environmentally sustainable options.