Human composting: The rising interest in natural burial
Вставка
- Опубліковано 27 лип 2024
- Natural organic reduction, more simply known as human composting, is a natural process that transforms the body into soil. It has become a recognized alternative to embalming, and a climate-friendly option compared to cremation. Correspondent Ben Tracy visits the Seattle funeral home Recompose, the first human composting facility in the country, and talks with those whose loved ones have gone through the process.
#funerals #burial
"CBS Sunday Morning" features stories on the arts, music, nature, entertainment, sports, history, science and Americana, and highlights unique human accomplishments and achievements. Check local listings for CBS Sunday Morning broadcast times.
Subscribe to the "CBS Sunday Morning" UA-cam channel: bit.ly/20gXwJT
Get more of "CBS Sunday Morning": cbsn.ws/1PlMmAz
Follow "CBS Sunday Morning" on Instagram: bit.ly/23XunIh
Like "CBS Sunday Morning" on Facebook: bit.ly/3sRgLPG
Follow "CBS Sunday Morning" on Twitter: bit.ly/1RquoQb
Subscribe to our newsletter: cbsn.ws/1RqHw7T
Download the CBS News app: cbsn.ws/1Xb1WC8
Try Paramount+ free: bit.ly/2OiW1kZ
For video licensing inquiries, contact: licensing@veritone.com
When my 99-year old mother passed two years ago, I used Return Home (based in Auburn, WA) to process her remains. They call it "terramation," instead of cremation: no chemicals and no fossil fuels are used in the process. After two months of processing, I was presented with almost 400 pounds of compost containing her stardust, which I shared with family members and her friends. And now she lives on in our gardens: she came up smelling like a rose--literally. It has been a great comfort to us to celebrate her continuity.
I hope this becomes legal in more states/nationwide. This is what makes the most sense to me and what I would choose.
Yep I can't imagine why this wasn't a sensible option up until the coffin industry created fake real estate
who cares bro
I just like this fact people have more options.
It's certainly a better idea than being buried in a box inside another box: this sounds the like the bad punchline to some morbid joke.
@@markspencer171 People who care about the world they're leaving for others.
This is the most humble and selfless way to end one's journey.
I don’t see why people think this is creepy or wrong. We all decompose when we die. I chose to this method because I want to go back to the earth and still be apart of life not trapped in a box and a tomb. This method is natural, respectful and peaceful and I’m glad that I have this choice.
Unless we’re embalmed, then you kind of lay there for a while and after an unnatural amount of time turn into a weird slurry that is forever trapped in an impenetrable case and you’ll never become part of the earth. Embalming is disgusting and I’m glad alternatives are finally coming into use in the US.
@@gateauxq4604 embalming is disgusting but I feel like this is not ideal either.
“Still be a part of life” I love this. That’s the way I’ve always looked at. I will be buried in a willow coffin directly into the earth so I can become a part of it.
This will cause deceases .
@@nicolepaloms3509 I think you meant diseases?
My sister's body went to Recompose in April. I think It's a choice we can feel good about.
I think the religious busy bodies need to mind their own antiquated business, they’ve done enough damage to this world. I love this idea and I think it’s beautiful ❤️
I agree with her completely about how offputting traditional burial is. I have talked all my life about just going back to the ground. It’s the cycle of life! Let me be part if it! I am so happy to hear about this! It’s the perfect solution for me.
A lot like burial at sea. Part of the circle and cycle of life.
I’m a Roman Catholic and I’m a native California Indian and farmer, so my feeling is God will be ok with me being decomposed as we were meant to be and have done for eons.
I am planning this. Mine is the only body that has carried me through life. I will treat myself to the best care I can with respect, gratitude and commitment. This includes after death, as part of my natural process. It gives me comfort now knowing I will rest in the peace of earth and at the same time, in my extremely small way, become part of it. Thank you for this presentation.
Bravo. Well written.
@@KoniB.my thought exactly, beautifully written!
I've always felt that being buried was being returned to the earth, but the way she described being in a steel box in the ground has changed my mind. It'd be nice if I could be composted, plant a maple tree in the compost, and put a tombstone in front of the tree so that family can find me if they wish and so I'm not forgotten entirely. That's what I'd want.
You won't be forgotten but, hopefully we'll all be with the ppl we loved and loved us back once we leave our this earth. stay well
It's why I live each day as if it's my last day
Another option more available around the country is a natural burial. You are usually put in a cotton shroud and placed in the ground with no embalming, casket, vault, etc. Basically you are being composted, just slower than this process. Some traditional cemeteries are setting aside a section just for natural burials.
Encouraging to hear and a beautiful choice imo.
Hope you live well as long as you want to. ❤
It’s a noble thing to plant a tree whose shade we won’t enjoy.
My brother was cremated last June and we scattered his ashes all over the property around our cottage ... his favourite place to be. The ashes were very fine, but also some small pieces of bone remained. In the wind, the ashes went all over the place... not ideal when you're trying to have a peaceful moment... gave us all a good laugh of course, as my brother would have loved.. but had it been earth we were scattering - well, yes, it would have worked equally well, if not better, to place him back with the land he loved so much
Curious did you check the state laws before scattering the cremains?
@@timw8228 I'm in Canada.. so, not an issue. But, yes, if there are laws in the US, by all means, check them before scattering ashes.
@Tim W lol, you sound so US American. Ready to pounce!
@@timw8228Who would argue a crime for sprinkling ashes on their own property?
@timw8228 that would only be a concern if it was public property, not private property. Then again who would know if someone were to scatter ashes in say a park, on a beach etc.? Many people row out into the ocean, especially in Hawaii, and scatter ashes. That is how my grandmother, aunt, uncle and cousin had it done.
This is possibly the most respectful burial option I've ever seen. It's a pity more states don't offer it, because I bet a lot of people would take it as an option if they could afford it (and maybe if more people were able to take the option, prices would come down). I'd love to be able to give back to nature as compost after I die. I don't need that body anymore, let it sustain the planet that helped sustain me instead.
It's still a lot cheaper than traditional burial
Absolutely. When my maternal grandfather was near the end he just wanted to be put in a pine box and buried out back, but the law wouldn't allow this so we had to do what they wanted not what he wanted.
Ever since I learned about this a few years back (from "Ask a Mortician" Caitlin Doughty), I've been intrigued. I live in Seattle and am considering signing up for the service soon. I think it's a wonderful way to be gentle on the environment and be returned to nature and be useful, even at the very end.
That’s where I learned about this too. Caitlin is great at educating us.
@@suzyinstitches273 She really is... I used everything I learned from her to help my mom take care of her brother when he died last year.
Hello, Deathling!
Didn't see your comment yet when I posted mine.
@@EricaGamet 🫂🤍🕊
Well, that's a little premature, don't you think? Are you close to dying? If a spot opens up before your death what happens then? If you commit suicide is that considered cheating?
Thank you Katrina Spade for bringing this natural end of life process to the forefront of our society. Your humane and environmentally conscious approach to dealing with death has given me great comfort in making me comfortable with my end of life decision making. Thank you!
Love this. Hope it can expand into many areas
We actually did this for our Bernese Mountain Dog. Wonderful alternative to cremation.
So beautiful to see this. Its been a long time coming. Back to the days as the native americans did.
Thanks for talking about a subject most ppl don't want to discuss or face.
She's right about embalming, caskets, and vaults...
She's wrong, I don't know of any lead lined caskets being made!
@@timw8228 Go to any funeral home and just ask.... Or is research too hard for you?
Traditional hand-made wooden coffins, of the typical wild-west style familiar from Westerns, were still being made in Sheridan Montana when I was living there, ca 2010, by a local woodworker for $600; all natural, all compostable
Nice, post info
I love this idea. I have told me family this is what I want to have done to me. It’s dust to dust ashes to ashes. It’s a natural process for the body to return to the earth.
This is the exact kind of thing my father would want and me too. There is something so beautiful about going back to the earth. ❤
👍👍 Recompose! I wish we have this in Hawai'i, and hope more cities will pick up on this great idea and much kinder way of handling the body after death.
We come from the earth, and we go back to the earth. This is how it's supposed to be. When a beloved pet dies, most of us will wrap them up in a favorite blanket or something, dig a hole, and we bury them in our back yard. We have a little cemetery ourselves with several beloved pets buried there. They all have a little marker with the names and little messages. They go back to where they came. Seems right to me.
I am a Death Doula and always wondered why this is not more of a common practice. I'm so glad to see this article in my favorite show because this will bring a lot of awareness to this natural process.
I just found out that there is one place in my state that is set up for natural burials. I am thinking of going that route. Essentially you are composting but it is a slower process than this. It is still environmentally friendly since it is just your body, a cotton shroud, and any flowers or leaves you want to be decorated with.
I agree. It is a gentle, honoring way to take care of the deceased. This process feels sacred.
I am interested in becoming a death doula. How beautiful you are in this field. ❤
IT IS NOT A COMMON PRACTICE BECAUSE THE FUNERAL HOMES AND THE CEMENTERIES WILL NOT MAKE A PROFIT, THEY WILL GO OUT OF BUSINESS IF EVERYONE DECIDED ON THIS OPTION.
@@patriciaramirez3139 a) We know it is not common since it is not allowed by many states and the ones that do have very few cemeteries that have natural burial plots and b) You don't have to yell.
@patriciaramirez3139 is that a bad thing? I doubt everyone will go that route. I'm sure mortuaries could change into these or add them in somehow. Gotta evolve with the times or become extinct. Unless this is your job you shouldn't be so upset.
100% agree with this. U.S. cemeteries are the most toxic places in the country because of the embalming process.
I agree. Also, there’s so much emphasis on death, and sometimes on pieces of land that would make beautiful parks for the living.
The whole funeral industry is a money grab. They will nickel and dime you to death. Try to get people grieving to buy insanely expensive caskets with fancy blankets and pillows. Flowers galore. Yes you need several limos to take you to the cemetery and a book to remember it all, like you could forget.
I want to be composed. This is beautiful. When I saw the pile of dirt that was her brother being shared with family, I cried. I want to be a pile of dirt.
It's not being a pile of dirt that interests me. It's being added to the forest, garden or park. Maybe even some of me helps to grow a redwood tree. Becoming a redwood... 🌲 No words
The word is _decomposed_ or _recomposed_ .
That pile of dirt wasn't her brother. It was some of the hundreds of pounds of dirt they add.
I like this idea of returning to nature
omg I cannot express how much I LOVE this and hope EVERYONE EVERYWHERE will adopt this immediately! It has almost no downsides except being more expensive than cremation but it's def cheaper than any funeral and burial for sure!!!❤❤❤❤
I so love this idea and hope it becomes legal everywhere.
When I buried 6 people in my garden, they accused me of being a serial killer...
A funeral should not cost 10,000$. That is the story that should have been told!
I´ve been thinking fo decades that this is the way I would like to go. I am also a gardener and would love to nourish my garden after I am gone. I hope life gives me time for this to become available in my country.
This is a beautiful, honoring way to tend to the person who has died and, in turn, nurture the soil.
I think it's a lovely idea - hope it becomes available in more and more places
I would love this as an alternative to cremation but the cost is prohibitive 😢
Better than cremation. I'm am so happy to see us move away from the practice of creating forever toxic waste areas with our cremated bodies. The last funeral I attended, I remember the cemetery workers talking about how "that is a 500-year vault." What are we doing??!?!!? From dust, to dust...that is the natural order of things.
You mean better than burial right?
@@aggarwalkaoor9002 Yes, thank you, I meant better than burial. But, I guess the real point is that whether we bury, compost, burn, or spread or remains, the important thing is that our remains return to the Earth, ready to support the cycle of life, rather than as toxic waste.
I would do this in a heartbeat. Hope it’s a practice that’s embraced in NC by the time I move on.
You can preplan with Recompose even if it's not legal where you live. They'll just bring you to the closest facility. I have preplanned this for myself. :)
@@fergusfraser8641Unfortunately, laws require a body to be embalmed if it's taken over state lines.
Yep, absolutely. I want this, and glad more states are joining the effort. Current standard burials -- the space, the industry, it's not worth it in my opinion. I'm surprised the numbers are low for using the new technique, but $7k vs. the $2.5k for cremation might be the reason why. Cremation is okay, but still has an environmental impact. Hopefully there will be more options like this to lower the cost.
That's because of the space and time it takes to store the body, for over a month instead of just a few days/hrs compared to cremation. But compared to traditional casket, embalming, burial plot purchases, $7K is a bargain!
Also check out aquamation (chemically dissolving the body instead of burning it). Less carbon footprint than cremation, and the "ashes" (misnomer) are pretty much the same. Currently this is my choice until composting becomes available for me.
I love this idea I was going to be cremated because that's the only cheaper way than being buried. This is so much better I was trying to get someone to understand I'd like a pine box under a tree but they didn't get it but this is even better.
I think this natural process is how I want go. We need much more of this. Return to nature.
I would love this!
Currently I'm leaving my body to Univ. of MI medical school. When they're done with it, they'll cremate it and return it to my family who can then bury it in a family cemetery site.
pretending the person didn’t die is a wonderful way to put words to how I feel about standard burial. I hate the idea of my family members being in the ground alone even if it is just their body. it’s disturbing to me; especially when you love someone. I also don’t like cremation. my dad passed away in 2019 and the thought of him being burned up is very terrorizing and disturbing to me, let alone explaining in a non- disturbing way to my young children why he is ashes now. which by the way I explained that gpa
went into a warm room and turned to ashes.
That is exactly how I feel about burial. that the person is left all alone in a confined, dark place. That sounds so lonely to me.
I heard about a similar process; it's cremation, BUT they stick your ashes in a biodegradable urn that also contains soil and tree seeds. Afterwards, you stick the urn in a piece of land, and in a few years you get "Reincarnated" as a Tree.
that is an available option, but the body is still cremated (with the energy cost, as well as health risk to crematory workers), and the resulting "ash" (mechanically ground bone and trace minerals) has no organic material left, so isn't much benefit to the tree, whereas the result of composting retains the organic material
not creepy at all, this is awesome. My first thought, respectfully, all the enhancers to preserve foods people have consumed, does that change the decomposition time frame?
After seeing this story when it first aired, I sent it to my son and asked to fill this wish. Seems very kind to me and the earth.
So simple and natural. And all for only $7000.
Wait, how much?
I know right cremation here is less then 2k
I said the same thing but I can see the appeal and hope the cost is reduced once it's more really available the is some called aqua-creamation also. a standard service at a nearby funeral home in my area was the basic would be about 3000.00 with 1250.00 dollars in service fees. I find nuts and they have a policy of embalming if you're having a viewing but in my state(Missouri), it's not legally required in most cases.
What a beautiful, thoughtful sister and woman.
I wish this process was available everywhere. Thank you for doing a story on it!
I am not Catholic, so I do not care about their opinions about my life or body. This is a comforting and respectful way to handle the remains of a life and my preferred method.
I tell my kids all the time that I want this kind of burial. We are a young healthy family so I don't anticipate needing this service for decades but I want my kids growing up thinking about how life is precious and celebrate it, even the end of this mortal life. I want to be used to help my orchard grow and my descendents can sit in the orchard and eat the fruit and remember me.
I love this! My plan has always been to be creamated and to be buried under a tree. This is a more direct way of acomplishing this goal. I would much prefer future cemeteries to be nothing but forests with trees serving as 'headstones'.
I'm so happy that this type of service is available. After many years in legal limbo, it's good to see this form of care becoming increasingly available. 👏🏽
Just bury me in a cardboard box in nature with no dangerous embalming fluids that pollute the environment.
LOVE this idea!!! We are part of nature not separate from it..... it's the cycle of life..
I like the idea that the whole process is natural. No chemicals no smoke. It's gentle on the Earth..I still would not want to handle the soil. I'll pass on that!
we have a whole cemetery of em where I live in nz. they plant trees on top and put you in a biodegradable casket. it's fascinating to visit as all the trees ar different ages/heights depending on the time of burial. can't see an issue with it at all
There are many videos on UA-cam of forgotten, neglected, and vandalized cemeteries and graveyards.
Also, some final resting places are near active train tracks and major airports.
Take into account that, at one time, maybe the cemetery was a peaceful location, then 15 years later, a developer buys up some land near the cemetery, and BAM, you are now right next to an airport.
Who is going to come and visit you 85 years after your passing?
For me, I think human composting is a very responsible and productive way of leaving a positive mark on the planet. Too bad at least one religion will not permit this procedure.
In the Chinese culture, there are two holidays out of the year that's set aside for visiting one's ancestors.
@@RaymondHng Here in the US, the cost of travelling from California to my ancestors' gravesites in Ohio is too prohibitive. Though I would love to visit one day.
@@stevehoffman9052 My paternal grandfather died in the Philippines. My family had his body exhumed and brought over to San Francisco where we are and reburied in Colma in the 1960s.
Irony is a religious institution whose death motto is: "Ashes into ashes, dust into dust" arguing against fostering this process along.
Rodney Dangerfield was correct in the movie Caddyshack..."Golf courses and cemeteries are the biggest wastes of prime real estate." Human composting seems like the environmentally proper way to go out.
I am so grateful to live in the State of Washington and that I'm able to make this choice in my end of life decision making. I'm SO glad to know that this is how my remains will be returned back to the earth.
A great way to become useful and a reminder that earth deserves more respect.
It's my desire that when the body exits me, my body will go through this beautiful process. The human body is earth, water and other elements, and we should have the choice to return our body to Mother Earth. I want my body to assist in the growth trees. And so it is. Thank you CBS for sharing this information. I've been following the states' legalization of human composting for the past two years.
Considering all the environmental turmoil we as humans create, this seems like a perfect way to give back. Unfortunately, one human body of compost is not enough to negate those 300m tons of non compostable material generated each year. But hey, it’s something.
I've been telling my wife for years that when I die, I want her to rent a small plane, fly over some remote forest (or jungle... we live in Bali)... and kick my body out the door! I like the idea of being naturally decomposed in such a beautiful and biodiverse ecosystem! Cheers!
As someone who's made plans for cremation, I love the idea and end product, it's the process which gives me pause, but since I'd be dead anyway, I'm certain I wouldn't care🤔
I hope Texas will allow this before I need the services. Otherwise, my option is cremation. Several other members of family also are planning cremation and spreading of ashes over their farms and gardens.
I think that’s beautiful and he got to decide that for himself. Now he is part of the garden that he loved so much.I would love that for myself.
This is so personal everyone should decide what to do with their own bodies when they die. But this is also a good idea.
What a beautiful thing. I hope it gains lots of support worldwide.
It's a process which mimics the natural decay and conversion of the bodies elements into useful soil, a great idea. I hope I get the choice to do this when my time comes.
Lovely way to end the existence of the body lent to us for this life journey. However, $7K is not cheap, cremation is one third of that.
@B Real - yes...I flinched at the cost.
Checked prices of coffins, by chance?
Cremation is $700. Check your math.
It's definitely more expensive, but ever kinder on the environment. I like the idea of becoming mulch more than ash.
@@RealMTBAddict Not where I live (over $2K).
Oh my god I love Jane Pauley. So nice to see her around. She is so beautiful. Miss your reporting, Jane.
Fantastic. Thank you so much.
I was with her right up until I saw those weird pod spaceship things, don't wanna end up soylent green lol. But seriously why can't we just dig a 6 foot hole and dump the body in, that's 100% organic and doesn't require all these extra nonsensical steps. That would eliminate most of the cost and be the absolute most healthy option for the Earth, I'd be cool with it (I mean I'll be dead so I'll have no clue but you get me).
Check the laws in your area. In some you can be buried naturally, wrapped in a shroud, placed in the earth to nurture the earth.
There's a cemetery north of San Francisco that does this. Body is wrapped in a shroud by family/friends, transported to the cemetery, put into the hole and covered. No markers nothing. I think a metal tag (required by the county) and a geo-tag is placed with the body so the family can find the location later.
I’m so thankful for this option, and now that it is legal In Colorado, I can choose this for myself.
This makes much more sense compared to traditional burial, you're essentially giving yourself back to nature. Becoming one with nature.
Absolutely amazing and natural 👍🏽
Instead of wasting real estate, you add to it. I'm in. 💜
Crying ... thank you for covering this so beautifully!
Rest In Peace beloved brother
This was tough 😔 to watch,😢but a reality we all have to face sooner or later 😞❣️
I would absolutely love to do this here in the UK as well. That or be placed into a wicker basket and have a tree planted above my grave, so that not only do I and the basket decompose naturally, but also my body can aid in the growth of the tree above.
I said similar thing to my wife.
A truck load of soil seems like a lot. I like the idea that it can be donated and presumably a small amount can be dispersed or preserved by the family.
I believe you can have as much or as little as you would like. Whatever you don't take goes to parks in the area (like state parks, if I recall correctly).
Thanks for going that extra mile to "balance" the perspective, CBS.
I know we were all wondering what the NYS Catholic Conference would think about yet another personal human choice that's absolutely none of their concern.
Agree. Don't like it? Don't do it.
Great story. Wish we had such a facility down here in the south.
Absolutely this! What a perfect choice, especially for a gardener. ❤
Nicely done segment. If you have a choice for death care make sure someone knows and write it down so your wishes will be kept.
This needs to be legal in every state. The last thing I want to be doing after I die is causing more damage to the earth. Natural burial is also an option but decomposition can take much longer that way plus many places require it to be in a established cemetary.
I am definitely considering this. Thank you for sharing!
What a wonderful concept! I hope it takes on. A fantastic way to give back to mother earth!!
Wow...I truly found this peaceful and beautiful. This need to be legal in all states...🙌🏽❤️🙏🏽
I agree with her about what's creepy, putting people in containers so the body can stay around. What is wrong with returning the body back to where it came, "dust to dust". Makes all the sense in the world to turn a body into fertilizer so life continues.
I'm sold!
Such a great idea! I’d like to be turned into compost & spread in a garden.
I love this idea! I would sign up for this burial for sure!
We had a “green” cremation for our son. It was nice. He was cremated with heat, pressure and moisture instead of flames. The ashes are very fine, very white.
This new method was not available in our state. But I like that the ashes are so fine, like sand.
I've never heard of this. It sounds very interesting. I want to be cremated, but this sounds great. RIP to your loved one.❤
@@pegs1659 I had not, either. But I looked up “green” cremations, and I found a place locally. I’m so glad that I looked into it. We were able to say goodbye to him and watch him go into the metal cylinder where his cremation happened. For some reason, it gave me comfort to watch this. We received his ashes about a week later.
@@deekang6244 How much was it?
@@Livetoeat171 I don’t remember. I want to say $3500, but we bought a package that included a few things.
I'm very sorry for your loss.
As a Muslim, I can say we do not embalm and we bury the dead as soon as possible with no casket, so we have no issue with them decomposing. At the same time, we consider it an honor and a protection for the deceased to be concealed below ground. We even consider this honoring the right of the deceased upon us after death and that the entire community may be liable to God if a human body is left unburied with no legitimate necessity. God says in the Qur'an that He sent a raven to show Cain how to bury Abel's body, and the practice started from there.
The compost could easily be buried, nourishing the soil at a deeper level.
I don't like the idea of tombstone. Humans should be buried in a land that's close to a family that way you can visit them instead of going to a graveyard.
Thank you for this segment!. I didn't know about this.
I love the idea...
I investigated being buried on my property in PA. I found that you can do so if you are not within a certain distance from a water source. Interestingly you do no need to be embalmed. You can be buried in a shroud and in that case only need to be one and one half feet down. As a traditional Catholic, quite frankly I do not see the difference between me being composted or buried in a shroud. I wonder if the church's opposition is due to pressure from the funeral business or perhaps they feel it might give some people the impression of a disrespect for life. Treating remains like a bag of composite from Home Depot.
Awesome! Wish it were more available