Human Composting Draws Concerns in Central Valley | KQED

"The compost that we were using here looks exactly the same, feels exactly the same; it just happens to be made in a different way."

"We were approaching it simply from a soil health standpoint. The lens we were looking at it through was, 'Would it be beneficial for the river environment?'"

"When you take that without telling anybody it's being used on public lands, and you just do it, I think that raises a lot of questions."

In Fresno County, an unusual soil created from human composting has ignited public discussions. This process, known as natural organic reduction, is a legal alternative to burial or cremation in a few states. The soil produced is marketed as safe and nutrient-rich. Sharon Weaver, executive director of the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, supports its use for environmental restoration. The practice has been ongoing for over a year but gained attention after Fresno County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld criticized its application on public lands without prior notification.

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