Lawmakers weigh human composting in Illinois

Why it matters: People seeking "natural organic reduction" — turning remains into soil — must now travel to one of 14 states that allow it.

• Legalizing the process here would reduce the economic and environmental costs of transportation.
• It would also allow a practice that avoids emissions associated with cremation and the leakage of embalming fluids from burial.

State of play: Rep. Mary Beth Canty's proposal to legalize it passed a House committee last month and she's currently writing an amendment to address concerns about regulation and liability in hopes of moving it forward.

What they're saying: Illinois' Catholic Conference criticized the measure in testimony last month, saying the process "degrades" and "creates a spiritual, emotional, and psychological distance from the person"

• "Cremation and burial, on the other hand, allow for a person to be wholly laid to rest in a sacred place, thus respecting the dignity of that person."

The other side: Canty tells Axios, "What happens to our bodies after death is one of the most personal decisions imaginable."

• "People deserve the freedom to align their death with their values, just as they do in life," she said. "Natural organic reduction makes that possible."

Zoom in: Longtime Chicago environmental radio host Mike Nowak testified in favor of the measure that some are calling "Kathleen's Bill," in honor of playwright Kathleen Thompson, his wife of 46 years. She died in 2024 and needed to be transported out of state for the process.

• "Having to fly remains to another state is obviously not sustainable," Nowak tells Axios. "Making the natural organic reduction process lawful here eliminates that problem. Plus, it creates another industry for the state. I don't know why that wouldn't be a positive outcome."

How it works: Organic reduction service Recompose told Axios that its packages often include a "laying-in" ceremony for loved ones, similar to a traditional funeral.

• Next, the body is placed in a specially designed vessel and surrounded with natural materials, such as wood chips and alfalfa.
• The process takes about a month and yields about a cubic yard of soil, including composted plant matter. Non-organic matter (such as dental implants) is sorted out, and the soil is tested.
• The deceased's loved ones can then take the entire result, or a smaller portion, in an urn-like container, for use in a backyard garden or forest.

The cost: A company called Earth, which has already opened in Illinois, says its packages cost about $5,000 — comparable to cremation when services are included.