Disposal of Remains: Composting to be Legal in WA

[TiredHorse]

I just stumbled on this in my morning news roundup:

https://www.sciencealert.com/washington-may-become-the-first-state-to-legalize-human-composting

I'm not sure if it's worth waiting for, but if I do end up remaining alive long enough, that looks pretty good to me.

 

[Johnnythefox]

I just stumbled on this in my morning news roundup:

https://www.sciencealert.com/washington-may-become-the-first-state-to-legalize-human-composting

I'm not sure if it's worth waiting for, but if I do end up remaining alive long enough, that looks pretty good to me.

I would agree to that, I was looking at funeral costs earlier today and it's abysmal the amount of money they make. Im looking at cremation only, no ceremony for just under £1,000. When I thought about it, I thought why not? No one bothers with me in life so why bother them with my demise.
To be fair though my younger brother keeps in touch.

 

[stellabelle]

Being worm food/a patch of poppies or daisies might not be so bad. Hell, even a rose bush might be nice.

 

[NumbItAll]

Why would this ever be illegal?

 

[TiredHorse]

Im looking at cremation only, no ceremony for just under £1,000.

It can be shocking. I've pre-paid my cremation for $1000, no ceremony. They pick up the body and deliver the ashes, and they can accept mementos to be cremated with me, but still...

Why would this ever be illegal?

Because composting can go outrageously and horribly wrong, to where it becomes a major community health hazard. My Beloved got her Masters degree in composting, essentially, and there's a lot more to it than just tossing a body on the midden. Especially with something as large as a human corpse.

WA is slow on legalizing aquamation, which is another option I'd like to see available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaline_hydrolysis_(body_disposal)

Then, of course, there's always the old standby of quicklime, but that would involve willing accomplices, which can be hard to find.

In the meantime, it's good to see composting may be available relatively soon.

 

[NumbItAll]

It can be shocking. I've pre-paid my cremation for $1000, no ceremony. They pick up the body and deliver the ashes, and they can accept mementos to be cremated with me, but still...

Because composting can go outrageously and horribly wrong, to where it becomes a major community health hazard. My Beloved got her Masters degree in composting, essentially, and there's a lot more to it than just tossing a body on the midden. Especially with something as large as a human corpse.

WA is slow on legalizing aquamation, which is another option I'd like to see available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaline_hydrolysis_(body_disposal)

Then, of course, there's always the old standby of quicklime, but that would involve willing accomplices, which can be hard to find.

In the meantime, it's good to see composting may be available relatively soon.

Thanks, I didn't realize there were logistical issues and was thinking more along the lines of a potential moral objection.

 

[15dec]

That's definitely something I'd be interested in, though I can't imagine my family approving of me returning as "nutrient-packed soil".

Also, "becoming a tree" sounds oddly beautiful, kinda makes me want to write some poetry or a short story.

 

[TiredHorse]

A few years ago I read of a method where the corpse was immersed in liquid nitrogen, frozen solid, then shattered. The freezing action had not just reduced the corpse's pathogen load, but it had lyced the body's cells (the cell walls were ruptured by the ice crystals that formed within them) and thus opened them to dramatically accelerated biological decomposition. The shattered remains (how appropriate, for the suicidal!) were then buried in a shallow grave and a tree planted above them. Apparently the trees showed fantastic growth and excellent good health from all the nutrients.

I always liked that idea. Plant a good apple tree above me; good shelter for birds, sustainance for humans, and a treat for horses.