Bodies could be composted under NH bill

A bill being considered in the NH Senate and labeled as the “Live Free and Die Free Act” would allow human remains to be composted.

If Senate Bill 53 were enacted, New Hampshire would join a dozen states with laws allowing this process as an alternative to burials or cremation.

NH Sen. Daniel Innis, R-Bradford, told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that “natural organic reduction” essentially turns a body into soil.

“People who want to choose this approach do so because it aligns with their personal values and gives them an opportunity to recommit themselves to the earth,” he said. “As I like to say, ‘live free after you die.’ "

The National Funeral Directors Association describes on its website how the process works.

The body is placed in a large, heated tank together with straw, wood chips and other natural materials for four to six weeks.

Microbial activity breaks down the body. No embalming chemicals or non-biodegradable materials are used. The family can use the resulting soil to spread around a planting or it could be placed in a forest.

Mike Vlacich, a government-relations consultant, testified to the committee on the behalf of Earth Funeral Group Inc., of Auburn, Wash., which provides the service.

“Natural organic reduction is a safe, dignified and responsible process of turning a body into a soil amendment,” he said.

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“Each family receives all or a portion of their loved one’s soil and in many cases families chose to donate the soil back to Earth Funerals, where it is used for forest regeneration projects in concert with state and local environmental laws on our own private conservation land or in partnership with Land Trust and other conservation organizations,” he said.

However, Peter Morin, executive director of the NH Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association, told the committee his organization is concerned with the chance that contaminants could be present in the composted remains. 

“I think there is a lot here that we do not know,” he said. “Quite frankly, we don’t see the demand here.”

He said it would be wise to see how the process plays out in other states before it is permitted in New Hampshire.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will eventually schedule a vote on the bill and forward it to the full Senate.

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Rick Green can be reached at 603-352-1234, ext. 1435, or rgreen@keenesentinel.com.

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