VIDEO: Human composting, an idea that's spreading

Nearly four years ago, provincial regulators put out a call for public feedback on "emerging alternative technologies" for disposing of human remains — including composting.

Although it's not legal anywhere in Canada, composting dead bodies is allowed in a handful of U.S. states.

Simply put, the process involves placing a corpse in a special container with a large amount of organic material, then waiting two to three months for the contents to form about 1.5 cubic meters of compost — enough to fill the back of a pickup truck.

What a loved ones chooses to do with that compost is completely up to them. They can take some of it home to their garden, for example, or donate it to a conservation agency.

“Even now, it can sound pretty wild and pretty different to people," admits Morgan Yarborough of Recompose, a Seattle funeral home that was the first in America to offer human composting to clients.

Yarborough was a recent guest on Village Media's Inside the Village podcast, where she talked about how the process works, why it's gaining popularity, and why Ontario should get on board.

You can watch the full episode HERE.

Hosted by Scott Sexsmith and Michael Friscolanti, the Editor-in-Chief of Village Media, Inside the Village is a news and current affairs podcast that provides a weekly window into some of the best local journalism from across our chain of Ontario newsrooms. Produced by Derek Turner, the program also explores bigger-picture issues that impact people across the province.

Every episode is available HERE. If you prefer the audio version, it is available wherever you find your favourite podcasts.

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