Natural burials may soon be legal in New Jersey
By: Katei Sobko
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... A bill that would allow for the "natural organic reduction" or "controlled supervised decomposition" of human remains is currently sitting on Governor Phil Murphy's desk.
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First introduce last year [2024] by then-Assemblymen and now U.S. Representative Herb Conaway, the bill passed both chambers of the Legislature the of last month. [06/2025]
..... The National Funeral Directors Association said natural organic reduction, also known as "human composting" or "terramaiton," is a process that accelerates the conversion of human remains to soil. The body is place in a "Container along with organic materials like wood chips, straw and alfalfa" where, over several weeks, "microbial activity braes down the body, transforming it into nutrient-rich soil."
..... In recent years, it has been viewed as an eco-friendly option. It is currently legal in Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. It was also approved in California but will not be in effect until 2027.
..... If the governor signs it, the bill would allow the State Broad of Mortuary Science to establish rules for the creations and reutilization of natural organic reduction facilitates and the oversight of the organic reduction process.
..... It would also require funeral directors to make sure people know that even after natural organic reduction has been performed, the deceases person can be placed in a cemetery.
..... The natural organic reduction facility would have to be annually registered and be inspected and approved by the Department of Environmental Protection, with the process under personal supervision, direction, management and control of a peons duly licensed as a practitioner of mortuary science or duly licensed as a funeral director. It would have to be at an appropriate distance from drinking water wells.
..... There were 116 members of the Legislation voted in favor of the bill and just three opposed.
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During the state Senate's budget committee meeting at the end of June, [2025] members cleared the bill with a much more lively commentary than usual.
..... The chairman, state Senator Paul Sarlo, quipped that although he does his best in answer questions from members, they should not ask about this bill.
..... State Senator Doug Steinhardt, who voted against it both in committee and on the floor, said he had read the earth Funeral website and found that the remains are sued to make soil-enriching compost or return to the family.
..... "Families choose how much soil they'd like returned to scatter or plant, and the remainder is donated to local conservation projects for land restoration initiatives," he said before showing a picture form the website of people "holding somebody with a plant growing out of it."
..... To which state Senator Mile Testa said," Ashes to ashes, dust to dust."
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During his vote in support, state Sean tor Andrew Zwicker took the time to quote Pete Seeger's "In Dead Earnest," sharing this line specifically: "If I should die before I wake, all my bone and sinew take, put me in the compost pile to decompose me for a while."
..... Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com