New York becomes the next state to allow human composting

They're the sixth state in the U.S. to allow this

Image via recompose.life

New York has become the sixth US state to allow so-called human composting.

A person can now have their body turned into soil after their death, which can then be used in planting flowers, vegetables or trees.

Also known as "natural organic reduction", the practice sees a body decompose over several weeks after being shut in a container.

The body is put in a closed vessel for around a month, along with woodchips and straw grass, before it gradually breaks down.

After a period of around a month - and a heating process to kill off any contagion - loved ones are given the resulting soil. This can be used in planting flowers, vegetables or trees.

Washington became the first state to legalise it in 2019, followed by California, Colorado, Oregon and Vermont.