Human composting bill introduced in New York
Last year the state of Washington became the first in the nation to legalize human disposition by human composting or recomposition, as it has been termed. That law allows the process starting on May 1 of this year.
Since that news broke we know of efforts in Colorado to move recomposition forward. We also know of bills introduced into the legislature in California and now, according to this article, in New York.
A prime sponsor of the New York legislation is Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. According to the article, Assemblywoman Paulin believes that many New Yorkers who favor environmental sustainability will want to consider composting as an alternative to traditional burials or cremations. She is quoted in the article, “This is cleaner and greener.”
However, the New York State Catholic Conference said last week that it strongly opposes the legislation because it is “essential the body of deceased person be treated with reverence and respect.”
The New York proposal would require composting facilities to be inspected by the state Division of Cemeteries.
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I’m Catholic and work for a funeral home in NYC. The Catholic Church opposed of cremation for the longest time until it all of a sudden was ok, as long as the cremains are then buried on holy ground. Now, I can’t tell you how many people split the cremains into 2, 4 or 6 sperate containers.
They put them in pendants, cookie jars and all sorts of things…but I guess that’s okay. Until I get a phone call from a real estate agent or the police department because a box of cremains were found in the woods or they were left for the new owners to a house or an apartment.
I rather have the option of having my body composted naturally and giving back to the earth. Simple, easy, clean and beautiful.