Is human composting legal in Texas?

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Marj Sippel and her husband of more than 40 years, Harry, always planned to be cremated after his death. That was until I saw an article about a new method that allowed someone to transform their body into organic matter after they died.

“It felt like the most rational, healthy way to get our bodies back into the soil,” Sippel said. We both decided this was what we wanted to do.”

Harry died last year. Marge said her arrangement after her death was peaceful and helped her heal from the loss of her husband.

“When he died, I took care of him, and this is the final part of it, helping him take care of his body as he returned to the dirt,” she said. I got

This process is called human composting, or natural organic reduction. This is a form of post-mortem body treatment that has become increasingly popular in recent years. Washington became the first state to allow the method, followed soon after by her five states of California, Colorado, New York, Oregon, and Vermont. As reported by CNBC.

Although currently illegal in Texas, people like Sippel who live in the state can opt for natural organic reduction through companies such as Green Cremation Texas. The company’s founder, Eric Neuhaus, said they serve all customers, but “of course the only caveat is that you have to put your loved one on a regular flight to Seattle. So far, according to Neuhaus, dozens of Texans have chosen natural organic compositions for his company.

how does that work?

If a person chooses this method, after they die their remains are placed in a large stainless steel container along with wood chips, alfalfa and straw. It may be incorporating material. After a few weeks, all that’s left is dirt, bone, and possibly a metal implant. According to Green Cremation Texas, the bones are further broken down and added to the soil, removing non-organic matter.

“We have about a cubic yard of dirt left that we can use for whatever purpose,” says Neuhaus. “Lots of families use it in their gardens. I’ve heard many stories of friends and family each getting a small amount of soil and using it in their own gardens for their loved ones who love gardening and the outdoors.” You may.”

Proponents of the method say human composting is far more environmentally friendly than burial or cremation. What’s more, Neuhaus says human composting could help people avoid occupying land for centuries to come.

“When you are buried in the cemetery, your plot is there forever,” said Neuhaus. “I think a lot of people don’t like that idea, especially now that cities are growing.”

Neuhaus supported Senator Nathan Johnson’s SB105 draftIf passed, this measure will allow Texans to choose water cremation for postmortem disposal. Texas is one of her 20 US states where the practice is still illegal.

There is currently nothing related to natural organic reduction in SB105, but Neuhaus said that could change.

“I would like to add [natural organic reduction] “If we have public support for this bill and feel that we are defending their freedoms when it comes to their freedoms and their rights to bodies when they die,” Neuhaus said. I’m in [natural organic reduction] in this session. ”

Some within the Catholic Church oppose the organic reduction of nature. Catholic bishops in California opposed a California bill that legalized human composting when the state legislature was still making its decision. Reported by SF Gate.

According to reports, church officials there said that human composting does not treat bodies with posthumous dignity and respect.

Additionally, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the United States issued a statement in March saying it also does not support the process.

“At the end of the human composting process, the body is completely decomposed along with the accompanying plant matter, producing a single mass of compost, leaving nothing left of the body to be enshrined in a sacred place.” organization writes. statement. “The Church considers burial to be ‘the most appropriate way to show reverence for the corpse’ because it ‘articulates our faith and hope for the resurrection of the body.’ .”

“Whether you choose this process is irrelevant to me and my organization as to why we support it,” said Neuhaus. “We want to give people a choice. If you don’t want to take this option, great. If so – great.

Marge said they haven’t dealt with Harry’s remains yet. After she dies, Marge wants her and Harry’s soil to be given to her children.

“So now [they’ll] Take Harry’s dirt and mine and they can choose what to do with it.

Sippel said the natural organic formula is healing, but said the process would have been much easier had it been legalized in the state.

“We came from dirt, why don’t we return to dirt? And why should we have wooden boxes? Why is this a healthier way for our environment?” Why do we need to lie on the ground for long periods of time when we have? This is our final gesture,” Sippel said.