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As seen in the Philadelphia Inquirer: This Chestnut Hill Man Wants to Be Composted After He Dies
Philadelphia Inquirer
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July 31, 2025
New Jersey is poised to legalize human composting with overwhelming bipartisan support, while Pennsylvania considers similar legislation as demand grows for sustainable end-of-life alternatives.
‍"When's the last time you walked through a cemetery and just stopped in front of a random headstone, and said, 'I wonder what that person's life was like'?" asks Paul Meshejian, a 76-year-old Chestnut Hill resident who chose Earth Funeral for his end-of-life care.
In The Philadelphia Inquirer, reporter Aliya Schneider profiles Meshejian's decision while exploring the legislative momentum building across the Mid-Atlantic region as families increasingly seek environmentally sustainable alternatives to traditional burial and cremation. Earth Funeral CEO Tom Harries discusses plans to open an East Coast facility by early 2026 to serve growing regional demand.
The piece examines personal stories that illustrate the appeal of soil transformation, including New Jersey resident Dianne Thompson-Stanciel, who had her husband's remains composted and now keeps his soil in plants around her home. The article positions human composting within the broader movement toward eco-friendly death care options, highlighting how the 45-day process creates nutrient-rich soil while avoiding the environmental impacts of fossil fuel cremation and traditional burial.
The coverage demonstrates growing consumer demand for meaningful, sustainable end-of-life options that allow families to create lasting environmental legacies through soil transformation.
Return to nature through soil transformation
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Takeaways
- Legislative Progress: New Jersey passed human composting legalization with 37-2 Senate and 79-1 House votes, becoming the 14th state to legalize the practice
- Regional Expansion: Earth Funeral plans to open facilities in Maryland, Delaware, or New Jersey by early 2026 to eliminate cross-country shipping
- Cost Competitive: Human composting costs are less compared to $9,000+ for traditional burial and $7,000 for full-service cremation
- Environmental Impact: Soil transformation eliminates fossil fuel use and soil pollution associated with conventional death care methods
Read the article at Philadelphia Inquirer
"When's the last time you said, 'I wonder what that person's life was like'?"
