Seattle Company Began the Human Composting Trend

   Geekwire, the nation’s leading tech, startup and business tracking magazine, began to cover this effort years ago when it launched in Seattle. Now six years later, the trend has spread to 13 other states.

   Want to Be Composted After Death? You can…

For the most part, the main momentum for this new-age idea of disposing of a person’s body when they die, was pushed out of Puget Sound.

That’s when, in 2020, entrepreneur Katrina Spade launched a company called Recompose.  In a nutshell, it carefully and discreetly turns a human into a safe organic material that’s apparently suitable for use as fertilizer.

   Spade Felt Traditional Methods were Pollution

According to Geekwire, Spade believes that burial and cremation (ashes) are detrimental to the environment, truth be told, the idea of becoming organic after death has had its champions for a number of years.  Martha Stuart gave a big jump to the movement last year when she said on a podcast she would rather be ‘fertilizer’ than otherwise buried.

It is legal in WA State, and 13 others, there are strict rules and regulations to the practice. It didn’t used to be, but with legal help from an attorney who was intrigued by the Recompose idea, six years later, it’s legal.

Human remains are placed in a chamber with organic materials and conditions that will turn them into organic, eco-safe fertilizer.

 What are the Costs of This Method?

Recompose costs around $7,000,  vs. a basic cremation cost of anywhere from  $800 to $1,500 in WA.   However, those costs are inflated considerably when you add in the funeral ceremony etc. So, while it is a bit higher, it’s not outlandish.

Some welcome it, others consider it ghastly. But either way, if you wish you could put this in your will. The practice is legal in CA and OR, but not Idaho, by the way.