Human composting is now legal in New Jersey

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy recently signed a bill into law that would allow the composting of human bodies as an alternative to cremation and traditional burial.

Families can choose to scatter or plant the soil that comes out of it or send it to local conservation sites where it’s used for reforestation or growing trees.  

Samantha Link is the director of government affairs for the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association. Dianne Thompson-Stanciel is a resident of New Jersey whose husband went through the human composting process this year. Both talked with WNYC's Sean Carlson more about how human composting works.