New York Governor Kathy Hochul Saturday signed legislation validating natural organic reduction as a method of burial. Known as “human composting” in common parlance, the process involves placing the body of deceased in a vessel and adding organic material like wood chips, alfalfa grass and straw. Such an arrangement provides conducive environment for natural microbes to act efficiently and quickly. The body disintegrates into natural elements in about a month.

New York has become the sixth state in the US to legalize this green method of burial. Washington became the first state to legalize human composting in 2019, followed by Colorado and Oregon in 2021, and Vermont and California in 2022.

Sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie, the bill seeks to “amend Article 15 of the not-for-profit corporation law in order to define and establish the process of natural organic reduction and the responsibilities of natural organic reduction facilities.”

The bill had cleared the NY Senate floor vote with 61 ayes to 2 nays.