Human Composting 101
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October 4, 2022
Note: The green funeral statistics on this page are kept under review to reflect the most up to date information available. For further information on human composting (also known as natural organic reduction), please explore the linked resources at the bottom of the page.
Human composting
Human composting - basic facts
30-45 days
The human composting process takes approximately 30-45 days. The exact length of the process varies depending on the size of the body.
1 cubic yard
Human composting produces an approximate cubic yard of soil.
$5,000-$7,000
The cost of human composting varies based on factors such as location, provider and the exact services chosen.
Human composting statistics
12 states
Human composting is currently legal in ten states: Washington, Oregon, California, Vermont, Nevada, Colorado, New York, Arizona, Maryland, Delaware, Maine, and Minnesota.
12+
Human composting is available beyond these twelve states. Residents of states that have not yet legalized body composting can arrange for transportation across state lines.
103,480,000 people
There are more than 103 million residents in states where human composting is legal.
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Green funeral statistics
68%
According to NFDA research conducted in 2024, 68% of people are interested in exploring green funeral options
470
The Green Burial Council estimated in November 2024 that there are 470 green burial cemeteries in the US and Canada.
The funeral industry and the environment - statistics
4.3 million gallons
Cornell University’s Mary Woodsen estimates that more than four million gallons of embalming fluid are used in US burials each year, in addition to:
- 20 million board feet of hardwoods
- 1.6 million tons of concrete
- 64,500 tons of steel
1 billion lbs
Cremation uses fossil fuels to maintain temperatures of 1900° F for between one and three hours at a time.
Each cremation produces 535 lbs of CO2, which is equivalent to a 609 mile car journey in an average sized car.
In total cremation produces about 1.04 billion lbs of CO2 each year in the US alone.
