After surge of green burials, human composting will soon be legal in Georgia
ATLANTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A new law will soon make Georgia one of 13 states to legalize human composting, an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional burial and cremation.
ers say the practice, also known as terramation, is a sustainable way to return loved ones to the earth.
Gov. Brian Kemp recently signed a bill legalizing human composting, with the law set to take effect July 1.
The law will allow funeral homes and other businesses to establish composting facilities within Georgia, eliminating the current need to transport bodies to West Coast states where the practice is already legal.
New law helps keep Georgians with intellectual disabilities off death row
A bill signed into law Tuesday by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp would make it easier to keep people with intellectual disabilities off death row when they’re convicted of a crime.
Human composting accelerates natural decomposition using science and organic materials like wood chips, alfalfa and straw. After a few months, the result is nutrient-rich soil that families can use to plant trees, tend a garden or donate to conservation efforts.
Michelle Arivette, a funeral director at AS Turner and Sons in DeKalb County, said interest is growing.
“Some people want to put the soil in the rose garden their loved one cherished,” Arivette said. “Or even spread it across their entire yard.”
Arivette’s funeral home is partnering with Recompose, a Washington-based company that operates one of the country’s first human composting facilities.
Photos provided by Recompose show how the process works: The body is wrapped in a shroud and placed in a vessel, layered with natural materials that aid in decomposition.
“Recompose is thrilled by the age of the human composting bill in Georgia. This new green funeral option allows people to return to the earth after they die, and to nourish gardens and forests. We are proud to see the movement continue to grow so beautifully,” Katrina Spade, founder and CEO of Recompose, said in a statement.
Ga. becomes second state to block Roundup maker from cancer claims
In a victory for global agrochemical maker Bayer, Georgia has become the second state to shield pesticide manufacturers from some lawsuits.
Currently, Georgia funeral directors must pay to ship bodies out of state to offer this service, adding to the already hefty price tag. The process can cost upwards of $5,000, more than traditional cremation.
Micah Truman, founder of Return Home, applauded the state’s legislative effort, saying the movement is about connection.
“I think we’re like salmon,” Truman said. “We want to go home.”
Return Home allows families to participate in a “laying ceremony,” where they can add personal items to the composting vessel — flowers, letters, favorite foods, and — Trumman joked — even expensive or cheap scotch.
“It’s our last shot,” Truman said. “We have to give a connected goodbye.”
Despite the growing interest, the process has its critics. Some skeptics have raised concerns about disease transmission. In response, companies say they do not accept bodies of individuals who died from certain infectious diseases like Ebola or tuberculosis.
The Catholic Church has also voiced opposition, arguing that human composting does not uphold the dignity of the human body.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
