From the almost “Soylent Green” department.
h/t Breitbart – the text of the bill makes it clear the new law is to save energy and improve the environmental friendliness of disposing of dead people.
From the bill;
SENATE BILL REPORT ESSB 5001
As Passed Senate, February 6, 2019 Title: An act relating to human remains.
Brief Description: Concerning human remains.
…
Brief Summary of Engrossed First Substitute Bill
- Adds alkaline hydrolysis and natural organic reduction as allowable reduction methods for handling deceased persons’ bodies for their disposition.
- Provides licensing and inspection regulations for reduction facilities.
- Updates statutes governing the disposition of human remains and facilities offering these services to include alkaline hydrolysis and natural organic reduction.
…
Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill: The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: Everyone faces the decision of how to dispose of human remains. For a world that has been remade by technology, making many things better, cheaper and environmentally friendly, it is pretty astonishing that in 2019 we are left with two legal ways to dispose of human remains; both of which that have been around for thousands of years. This bill will allow two additional ways that are both cheaper, accessible to more people, and more environmentally friendly. Alkaline hydrolysis produces virtually the same result as cremation but using dramatically less energy.
Recomposition, which will be the first law of its kind in the U.S. and possibly the world, has an output of about a cubic yard of soil, indistinguishable from other soil. There was a recomposition pilot program conducted at WSU, which met all safety thresholds outlined by the Department of Ecology. The process for recomposition is similar to those used for animals. The body is covered in straw and wood chips and over a couple of weeks is broken down into soil. This process is safe and effective for human disposition. It is natural, gentle, and sustainable, reducing carbon emissions. It uses one-eighth of the energy of cremation.
In collaborating with funeral directors around the state, it is clear that Washington residents want more end of life choices. One quarter of families are asking for more green options. This is also good for small businesses that wish to provide these options. This is exciting and there is no reason these options should not be available. DOL has asked for a delayed effective date so that they can build this into their new computer system, reducing the fiscal impact.
…
Source: 5001-S.E SBR APS 19 (original link here ).
According to the Breitbart report, Washington State officials plan to give the family of the deceased first dibs on the “soil” produced by composting dead loved ones, otherwise the soil would be distributed to local conservation groups, where it would be used to help nourish the land.
The Progessive Democrat socialists will next be pressing to have the process commenced before people have actually died, saving even more CO2.
Before the cult of Christanty spread to the rest of Europe, especially the colder parts, the people of the Middle East simply buried them.
In the dry and warm condition, with usually no heavy rain, the bodies simply rotted away.
At that time the people of the North cremated their dead, so no pollution of the water supply, that is until Christanty arrived and with it burial.So now we had polluted water supplies.
The church fought against cremation for a long time, such is progress.
MJE
Washington State, thus having created a less expensive manner of passing on, will become an attraction — like dung to insects — for people about to die.
“Junior, take me to WA and it won’t cost so much. Be more money for the grandkids.”
We will need a wall to keep riffraff out. Let’s see: Oregon, Idaho, and B. C. can pay for it.
Just like used to do with executed criminals, dig a hole and fill it with lime.
Going to be interesting if they make an exception for Muslims.
I guess facing Mecca can be arranged.
Shortest distance is through the Earth.
It is hot down there! A million degrees some guy said.
End of life choices for the Green fanatics should be encouraged and fast tracked. 😉
Look guys, at the end of the day, when you’re dead, your dead. One way or another you are going back to the earth, be it in a coffin, cremated or in this new dehydrated way. Your still gonna be compost, wether you like it or not. I’m all for the idea. You don’t need headstones or marble plaques to be remembered by. I mean, let’s face it, jump a generation or two and you’ll hardly be remembered anyway, unless someone looks on the family tree. I hope they bring it here to the UK. I’d love to know I’m gonna physically put something back into this poor knackered old planet of ours.
“The Mulching of America” – Harry Crews
It’s disgusting… Typical for the Americans to come up with such a revolting way to treat dead people but to offer the relatives soil made from this is just sick. Sounds like the person who thought of this needs a nice padded cell just like the one that says it’s ok to do it. And anyway sometimes humans have all kinds of diseases that shouldn’t be allowed to mingle in the earth as it could damage the eco system, kill animals, leech into water etc… Respect the dead letting them rot in the back hard is awful plus straw and dark chips aren’t going to deter an animal from digging a corpse up and eating it. America is known for its large wild animals and would you like to think your relative could e its lunch ?
A human body will produce exactly the same amount of CO2 by decomposing, whether in the ground or as compost, or eaten by scavengers or by cremation. It will just happen a bit faster or slower. The extra fuel needed by cremation is of course an addition.
The traditional “six feet under” method seems to be good enough to me.
In Germany was a rumor about interdiction of long distance, including air transport of non cremated human remains. Never became a reality, guess higher spheres considered religious differences as many opt for final rest in their countries of origin.
Aquamation is widely advertised, the final product being a “neutral eco friendly liquid disposed in the sewage system” while crushed dried bones are returned in urns.
Burials on private land, pets inclusive, are prohibited for as long as I can remember.
Airborne disposal of ashes above land and sea are officially a no-no.
Even the dead are wrecking the planet…
“Climate change is…a gross injustice – Barbara Stocking, CEO of Oxfam GB, Global Humanitarian Forum, May 29, 2009
Earth’s entire history is one of gross injustice. Who knew?
This won’t go over well with casket makers. Sell that stock in a hurry.
Do it for the children
“by composting dead loved ones,”
”DUH”, that’s not a new idea.
Dead bodies have been being “composted” ever since Europeans started immigrating to North America.
When someone died or was killed a grave was quickly dug and they were put in the hole and covered over. The only purpose of a wooden casket was for transporting the dead body. Then a casket became “fashionable” along with morticians and “for-profit” business sprung up everywhere.
Then secure caskets and vaults became Law ….. to prevent contamination of groundwater supplies.
Curious.
Many lifeforms use acidic digestive fluids, not alkaline. What makes ‘alkaline’ decomposition natural?
And why are they pretending this compost method is any better than burial?
The six feet rule came about for multiple reasons, including;
Isolating disease sources,
Preventing topsoil disturbances from exposing past burials,
Preventing natural disasters from exposing cadavers. e.g. New Orleans and hurricanes,
Separating human environments from decompositional odors.
Perhaps there should be a green recycling bin for humans to be placed curbside for removal with the other trash. No fuss, no bother, let someone else handle it all.
It should be pointed out that there are two very different alternative methods that are being proposed. The one involving covering with wood chips and straw would be the far-cheaper one of natural organic reduction, and could take up to 7 weeks, depending on the conditions. Not mentioned is what would happen with the bones, as those would not break down.
The other, more expensive option involves use of a stainless steel chamber into which the body is placed, then water and potash lye (potassium hydroxide) added, and then the chamber is heated to about 350 deg. This process does dissolve the bones.
People should have options. The “green” label is a silly one, but whatever helps people in their time of grief is fine.
Gaia is watching you……for your compost value. Let’s hope they don’t get started with recycling tax credits for this too.
The real question on the west coast is whether this helps marijuana plants grow faster or not. That is all that matters there now.
May their worries be my worries.
Bring out your compost! Bring out your compost!
Seriously – these people just sit around and brainstorm on what they can do next – that’s why it will never be enough – never mind there was never a problem to be solved in the first place.
The Greens now want their hooks in you after you die. Horrible people….
Soylent Green certainly can’t be far away, assuming society doesn’t destroy itself before we reach that level.
When do they add this to your drivers license as another organ donor check box?
Turning human into cheap fertilizer, it speaks eloquently about the people who propose this nonsense. The left’s beloved “primitive people” around the world put a very high value on the burial grounds of their ancestors.