There’s a particular kind of quiet that settles in after the urgent phone calls are done. The service details are still undecided. The family group chat is still active. But for a moment, you’re simply sitting with a question that feels both practical and deeply personal: what happens now?
For many families today, that question includes options that weren’t widely available a generation ago. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, cremation has become the most common choice in the U.S., with the cremation rate projected at 63.4% in 2025. More families are planning memorials that fit real life: flexible timing, smaller gatherings, personal rituals at home, and meaningful keepsakes. In that same spirit of choice, a newer option has entered the conversation in certain states: human composting, also called natural organic reduction.
Human composting is often described in simple terms—“body to soil”—but the reality is more careful and more scientific than the phrase suggests. It’s a deliberately managed, aerobic process that relies on microbiology, airflow, temperature control, and time. And for families considering it as part of their funeral planning, understanding what’s happening inside the vessel can bring peace of mind.
What natural organic reduction is (and what it isn’t)
Natural organic reduction is a legal form of disposition in a growing number of states. The National Funeral Directors Association defines it as the contained, accelerated conversion of human remains to soil, using vessels that hold the body with plant materials for roughly four to six weeks. This isn’t backyard composting, and it isn’t “rushed” in a careless way. It’s closer to what you might recognize from high-quality commercial composting—carefully tuned conditions that support the right microbial communities and discourage the wrong ones.
It also isn’t a replacement for memorialization. Families still hold gatherings, share stories, and choose objects that keep a loved one close. In fact, some of the same questions show up no matter which option you choose: Where will the remains be kept? What feels respectful in our home? Do we want a portion returned to us? What do we want our children to remember?
If your family is comparing options, it can help to see natural organic reduction as one path among several. Cremation remains common, and for families who choose it, the decisions often shift toward memorial objects like cremation urns , shareable keepsake urns , cremation jewelry , or even biodegradable options for a water burial. The goal is similar: a choice that fits your values, your budget, and your grief.
The soil science behind the “body to soil process”
The heart of the terramation process is aerobic decomposition—breakdown that happens with oxygen present. In nature, aerobic decomposition is what turns autumn leaves into rich forest soil. In natural organic reduction, the same biological principle is guided inside a controlled container with a specific blend of plant materials and a carefully monitored environment.
Aerobic decomposition: why oxygen changes everything
Microbes are the invisible workforce of the body to soil process. When they have oxygen, many of the dominant species produce heat as they metabolize carbon-rich material. That heat is not added like an oven; it’s generated by the biology itself. Oxygen also helps avoid the conditions that create strong odors and slower, “anaerobic” breakdown. In other words, airflow supports both comfort and performance: it speeds the process, keeps it cleaner, and helps maintain conditions that facilities can monitor and document.
In practical terms, a facility will arrange the body with plant material—often wood chips, straw, and other natural components—so there’s structure and air space. As microbes get to work, the temperature rises. Providers monitor temperature and oxygenation and may rotate or “turn” the material to keep the microbial activity even and aerobic.
Heat as a safety feature, not a side effect
Families often want to know: is it safe? The answer lies partly in temperature standards and recordkeeping. Recompose, one of the best-known providers, explains that the temperature in the vessel is sustained over 131°F for a minimum of three continuous days as part of the process. (Recompose) Washington’s regulations similarly require records showing that 131°F was reached for seventy-two consecutive hours. (Washington Administrative Code) Those numbers matter because sustained heat is a widely used benchmark in composting and related fields to reduce pathogens under controlled conditions.
This is one reason natural organic reduction is offered only through licensed facilities in places where it’s allowed. The process is regulated, documented, and designed for public health and environmental responsibility—not improvisation.
Timeline: what “weeks” really means
Most families hear “weeks” and wonder what that means in real life, especially when grief makes time feel strange. Recompose describes a vessel phase in which the body breaks down over the next five to seven weeks through the action of aerobic microbes. (Recompose) They also note that from the time of death to finished soil, the overall timeline can be about 8 to 12 weeks, including the full sequence of care and processing. (Recompose)
For families, this means you can still hold a memorial service on your own timeline. Some people gather quickly. Others wait for warmer weather, travel, or simply a bit more emotional steadiness. Your disposition choice doesn’t have to dictate the pace of remembrance.
What families receive at the end
One of the most practical questions is also one of the most surprising: how much soil is created? Recompose says the process creates approximately one cubic yard of soil per body—roughly a 3 x 3 x 3-foot volume—and notes it can weigh about 1,000 pounds. ( Recompose) Return Home similarly describes about a cubic yard of soil/compost produced by an average natural organic reduction. (Return Home)
That’s far more physical volume than cremated remains, and it shapes what comes next. Some families choose to use soil for restoration projects, memorial gardens, or planting—whether at home or in a meaningful place. Others prefer to receive a portion and have the rest handled according to the provider’s program. There isn’t a single “right” choice here. The right choice is the one you can live with, year after year, without feeling pressure from anyone else’s expectations.
If you’re the person who tends the plants, you may feel drawn to the idea of a living memorial. If you’re the person who needs something small and close—something you can hold on hard days—that’s valid too. And that’s where many families, even those choosing natural organic reduction, still look for personal keepsakes.
Where human composting is legal (and how to confirm it)
Where human composting is legal changes over time, and it matters because availability depends on both state law and licensed providers. The NFDA maintains resources on natural organic reduction, and industry trackers can help you see which states have authorized it. New laws also continue to pass; for example, the Associated Press reported that New Jersey legalized human composting with a bill signed on September 11, 2025. (Associated Press)
The most reliable approach is simple: confirm both legality and practical availability in your state at the time you are planning. Even in states where it’s legal, the number of facilities may be limited, and transportation may be part of the arrangement. If you are planning ahead, that conversation can be part of thoughtful, protective funeral planning—the kind that reduces stress for the people you love.
Cost realities: human composting cost vs. cremation cost
Cost is never just a number. It’s a reflection of what your family can manage, what feels worth it, and what you don’t want to burden someone else with later. On the human composting side, Recompose states that their price is $7,000 and includes care and guidance through transformation into soil. (Recompose) Return Home publishes pricing information as well, which can vary by plan and location. (Return Home)
On the cremation side, families often ask, how much does cremation cost—and the answer depends on whether you choose direct cremation, cremation with a viewing, or cremation with a memorial service. If you want a clear, practical breakdown, Funeral.com’s guide, How Much Does Cremation Cost in the U.S.? , walks through typical fees and what changes the total.
One compassionate way to compare is to separate “disposition” from “memorialization.” Disposition is the method—natural organic reduction, cremation, burial. Memorialization is how you carry love forward: a gathering, a garden, a headstone, a photo, a piece of jewelry, a place to visit, a container that feels right in your home. When families feel stuck, it’s often because they’re trying to make those two categories match perfectly. They don’t have to.
How cremation memorial options fit into the same conversation
Even if your family is focused on natural organic reduction, it’s common to compare it alongside cremation because cremation is widely available and flexible. And if cremation is the path you choose—now or later—the practical questions become very specific, very quickly: What will we do with the ashes? Do we keep them at home? Do we scatter? Do we divide them among siblings? Do we want something small and wearable?
These are not “shopping questions.” They are grief questions wearing practical clothes.
Choosing an urn: size, safety, and what you want the urn to do
A full-size urn is usually chosen when a family wants one primary resting place. If you’re looking for cremation urns for ashes, Funeral.com’s cremation urns collection shows a range of materials and styles that work for home display, burial, or a niche placement.
When families want to share ashes—or keep a portion while scattering the rest— small cremation urns and keepsake urns can be the gentle solution. “Small” often means under 28 cubic inches, while “keepsake” typically means a symbolic portion—designed for sharing or for a private memorial space. If you want guidance that doesn’t feel overwhelming, Funeral.com’s Cremation Urns 101 explains how families choose based on their real plan.
Keeping ashes at home: what families worry about (and what helps)
Keeping ashes at home is common, but it can come with anxiety—especially if there are children, pets, or complicated family dynamics. The emotional part is straightforward: closeness. The practical part is where support helps: safe placement, respectful display, and understanding which “rules” are actual laws versus policies from cemeteries or airlines.
If you’re looking for calm, practical guidance, Funeral.com’s Keeping Ashes at Home guide walks through safety, respect, and what to consider in everyday life.
Water burial and biodegradable options
For some families, the most fitting goodbye happens on water. If you’re considering a water burial, a biodegradable urn is designed to float briefly or sink promptly and then dissolve over time. Funeral.com’s article on biodegradable water urns explains how different designs behave and what affects the timing.
If you’re exploring a broader set of eco-friendly memorial containers, the biodegradable & eco-friendly urns for ashes collection is a helpful place to compare options without pressure.
Cremation jewelry: a small, wearable way to keep someone close
Sometimes what a person needs is not a container on a shelf, but something that can be held in the hand on the hardest days. That’s one reason cremation jewelry has become a meaningful choice for many families. These pieces are designed to hold a very small amount of ashes, often a symbolic “pinch,” and they can be worn daily or saved for special occasions.
If you’re exploring cremation necklaces or other styles, you can browse Funeral.com’s cremation jewelry collection, or narrow it to cremation necklaces . For a gentle, practical explanation of how these pieces are filled, sealed, and worn, Funeral.com’s Cremation Jewelry 101 is a steady starting point.
Pet loss: pet urns, keepsakes, and the same need for care
Families often discover something surprising in grief: the questions are similar whether the loss is human or animal. You still want a respectful way to hold what remains. You still want something that feels like love, not clutter. And you still want to be able to explain it to a child without fear.
If you are choosing pet urns for ashes, Funeral.com’s pet urns collection includes both traditional vessels and more decorative memorials. Some families are drawn to pet cremation urns that look like a simple home object. Others prefer something unmistakably “about them”—a paw print, a photo, or a figurine that reflects a dog’s posture or a cat’s quiet presence. Funeral.com’s pet figurine cremation urns collection was made for exactly that kind of tribute.
And when multiple people are grieving the same pet—partners, children, roommates—shareable memorials can help. Funeral.com offers pet keepsake cremation urns designed to hold a small portion, so everyone can have a tangible connection without conflict.
If you want guidance before choosing, Funeral.com’s Pet Urns 101 explains sizes, styles, and how families decide what feels right.
Bringing it back to “what to do with ashes” (and what to do with soil)
Whether your family chooses cremation or natural organic reduction, the question that follows is usually the same in spirit: what to do with ashes—or, in the case of human composting, what to do with soil.
Some families scatter. Some keep a memorial at home. Some divide a portion among siblings. Some choose a water ceremony, a garden planting, or a quiet ritual on an anniversary. And many do a combination because grief isn’t linear and love rarely fits neatly into one decision.
If you’re feeling uncertain, one practical exercise can help: imagine a normal Tuesday six months from now. Where do you want the memorial to be? What do you want it to feel like when you walk past it? If the answer is “I want a steady place in the home,” that may point you toward cremation urns for ashes or an at-home memorial plan. If the answer is “I want something small, private, and close,” that may point you toward keepsake urns, small cremation urns, or cremation jewelry. If the answer is “I want to return to nature,” that may point you toward natural organic reduction, biodegradable urns, or a planned scattering ritual.
These aren’t just logistical choices. They are choices about how you carry someone forward.
Gentle next steps for funeral planning
When families are considering natural organic reduction, cremation, or both as part of their funeral planning, the most grounding next step is often the simplest: write down your top values and your top constraints. Values might include environmental impact, religious tradition, the desire to keep remains at home, or a preference for a living memorial. Constraints might include time, travel, cost, and the number of decision-makers involved.
If cremation is part of the conversation, Funeral.com can help you explore memorial options at your own pace—starting with cremation urns , then narrowing to small cremation urns or keepsake urns if sharing is important, and adding cremation jewelry if someone in the family needs a more personal anchor. If cost is a major concern, start with the question families ask most often—how much does cremation cost—and use Funeral.com’s 2025 cremation cost guide to make sure you’re comparing like with like.
And if you’re choosing natural organic reduction, don’t be afraid to ask direct questions about timeline, licensing, temperature monitoring, and what exactly will be returned to you. The science exists to support your trust. Your family deserves to understand it.
In the end, the “best” choice is rarely the most fashionable one. It’s the one that feels honest for the person who died and survivable for the people who remain. Whether that looks like soil returning to a garden, ashes resting in a home, a cremation necklace held between your fingers on a hard day, or a quiet water burial that matches someone’s spirit, the purpose is the same: to honor a life with care, and to give love somewhere to land.
