How Human Composting Works

Originally conceived by founder Katrina Spade, Recompose developed human composting over years of rigorous research and design

The biological process mimics the earth’s natural cycles in a controlled environment and is similar to what occurs on the forest floor as organic material decomposes and becomes topsoil. Human composting is powered by beneficial microbes that occur naturally on our bodies and in the environment.

room for a green funeral with human composting bed — The body is present on a dark green bed—the cradle—and shrouded in natural cloth and greenery for the laying-in ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, the cradle is moved into the threshold vessel, where the transformation into soil begins.

Phase 1 The Cycle Begins

Shortly after someone dies, they come into the care of Recompose. Over the next 8 to 12 weeks, our staff provides respectful and personalized care while the body transforms into soil. Clients can choose to use our thoughtfully curated spaces for ceremonies if they wish to have a funeral service or spend time with their person before soil transformation begins.

An open vessel with wood chips to show how human composting works — An open Recompose vessel filled with plant material. The vessel is where the transformation into soil takes place.

Phase 2 The Laying In

At the time of laying in, our staff place the body into a composting vessel surrounded by a mixture of wood chips, alfalfa, and straw carefully calibrated and specially tailored to each individual. The vessel is closed and the transformation into soil begins.

stacked vessels where human composting takes place at Recompose — An open Recompose vessel filled with plant material. The vessel is where the transformation into soil takes place.

Phase 3 The Vessel

In the vessel, microbes power change at the molecular level, resulting in the formation of a nutrient-dense soil. The cutting-edge design of Recompose’s vessels, coupled with our highly trained operators, ensures that the resulting soil is beneficial for plants and trees.

An open Recompose vessel filled with plant material. The vessel is where the transformation into soil takes place.

Phase 4 The Soil

After five to seven weeks, depending on the body, the soil is removed from the vessel and placed in a curing bin for an additional three to five weeks. Each composted body creates approximately one cubic yard of soil.

forest in the pacific northwest where recompose human composting soil is delivered — An open Recompose vessel filled with plant material. The vessel is where the transformation into soil takes place.

Phase 5 Life After Death

The soil created returns nutrients from our bodies to the natural world. It sequesters carbon and nourishes new life. Once completed, it can be donated to conservation organizations through the Recompose Land Program or used by family and friends to scatter or nourish gardens.

When my son’s soil arrived, we were all drawn to it. The earthy smell, the beautiful color, and the sense of vibrancy and life. He was tragically gone, but on some level he now also exists forever in nature.

Paul S

New York, New York

We had no idea the profound significance receiving the soil of our son for our personal use would have. We used it to plant a dogwood tree in our yard that can be seen from his childhood bedroom. Our yard has become a spiritual place where we go to talk to our son while he, in turn, nourishes his dogwood tree. Thank you for this beautiful gift.

Karen Y

Seattle, Washington

What’s so great about the compost is that you can do everything with compost that you can do with ashes plus a whole lot more. You can just hold it in your hands. It smells good, it feels good…it feels like life.

David S

Seattle, Washington

Imagine nourishing a flower, a tree, or a forest ecosystem as the last material thing that you do here. Thank you Recompose for supporting dad in his final earthly gesture.

Victoria S

Seattle, Washington

Recompose was the perfect choice for my brother. The staff were compassionate, turning an industrial process into a meaningful ritual our family cherished. His soil is now nurturing trees in gardens all across the Northwest. I talk with him every time I am weeding underneath my own trees. I love thinking of him spread under the roots of so many trees across the country.

Marie E

Bellingham, Washington

My father planted trees at our property and asked to have the soil put around them when he passed. It was his favorite place. He’ll grow there with the trees, and we’ll always know he’s there.

Kristina J

Seattle, Washington

I look forward to having my husband’s soil and knowing that he will live on in the soil life, the plant life, the trees, the habitats that he will provide as things grow thanks to him. I believe in what you are doing, it is the best way to live sustainably and in a regenerative way.

Heather S

Anchorage, Alaska

The Gathering Space at Recompose appears modern and not what we’re used to thinking of death. While there are tissues for the grieving, this is different. At Recompose, instead of saying goodbye, you’re welcoming an opportunity for your loved one to recreate itself in a different form.

Fox 13, Seattle

I went on a tour of the facility and was SO impressed. It was everything I hoped it would be and more – so sensitive, so ecological, so moral, so personal. It’s very pleasing to think that human remains, my remains, will be turned into nutrient rich soil that can be used to grow new plant life. I like that.

Sally B

Seattle, Washington

Recompose was just right for our family. My husband was an organic farmer and farm advisor. Having his body composted was his last gesture of love for the earth – giving all that remained of himself to encourage new life.

Jenifer B

Nevada City, California

Washington is so fortunate to have human composting as an alternative option to conventional cemetery burial and cremation. Katrina and her team offer super informative tours of this facility in Seattle. I just attended one and highly recommend it for any and all!

Angie W

Seattle, Washington

The idea that I may be able to reduce my carbon footprint in death, in a way that is still impactful to those I may leave behind, and to fulfill life in ways that I’ve always cherished (forestry and gardening) is the simplest and most elemental way I feel I can prepare for death.

Kiri S

Seattle, Washington

A metric ton of carbon is saved by choosing composting over cremation. As if that fact alone wasn’t convincing enough—just imagine—you can become an entire cubic yard of soil for your loved ones to garden with! Recompose offers a way to give back to the earth in a genuinely meaningful way.

Jen N

Seattle, Washington

For many years I’ve been concerned with the toxicity of human bodies continuing to pollute the Earth even after death. I feel it is absolutely necessary to reinvent the funeral industry, with a process that has the least impact on natural resources and renders us non-toxic to the planet after our passing.

Violeta L

Los Angeles, California

As a Roman Catholic priest, I recognize only human composting fulfills the Catholic prayer of Commital: “Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” Having borrowed my body from the earth for 75 years, it’s only right that my body not only returns to the earth, but enhances it. “And God saw it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31)

Joe V

Maryknoll, New York

To return to the earth through natural cycles and regeneration of new life is beautiful. Here’s to giving our lives to the causes that warm our hearts and bring smiles to our faces, and leave the world better than we found it.

Sarah D

Seattle, Washington

I hate the idea of precious ground being used for graveyards. The waste of natural resources in so many ways. I recently learned of the environmental costs of cremation, although that was going to be my go-to because green burial grounds are difficult to find. This is a wonderful alternative.

Tracy D

Austin, Texas