Gentle return to nature: Delaware legalizes new form of deathcare
DELAWARE – Thursday, the Delaware House of Representatives passed House Bill 162. It officially introduces the process of “natural organic reduction” as an alternative to traditional burial and cremation for someone who has passed away. “It’s really appealing to people. It’s gentle and it’s natural, it’s net carbon-neutral versus cremation, which is a fossil fuel-powered process, and it offers this return to nature,” said Earth Funeral Co-Founder and CEO Tom Harries, “We’ve been involved in the background partnering with Delaware funeral directors, environmental regulators and health regulators too, to make sure the bill is set up for success.”
It’s an option many people probably haven’t considered, but Delaware resident Scott Conn approached it with an open mind: “I think it’s kind of a neat option in some sense, because people like to preserve life. Certainly you’ve got your normal burial, and I know cremation’s become a thing because of finances, but this really seems like a neat alternative. First I’ve heard of it.”
The main environmental concerns revolve around the quality of the soil that results from the natural organic reduction, something that Harries said is central to the process: “As a licensed organization, you have licensed facilities, you have licensed funeral homes as part of this process. It’s quite strictly regulated to make sure it’s safe for everyone involved.”
Harries also noted that deathcare is deeply personal, and will be different for every individual and every family: “What I think is important to note is that this is just consumer choice. We are not mandating that you should be turned into soil. but for those who want this gentle, natural process that returns you to nature, you can now start choosing it.”
The process uses large vessels with straw, woodchips, and other natural materials, taking about 30 days in total. At the end of the process, the family can choose how much soil they would like returned. They can decide to use the soil to plant a tree, or they can scatter or store it how one would do for ashes. Any remaining soil that the family doesn’t want is sent for use in reforestation projects.
Delaware will become the 8th state to make the process of “natural organic reduction” legal. The bill now awaits the governor’s signature.
