Minnesota Legalizes Human Composting as an Eco-Friendly Burial Option

As new legislation takes effect in Minnesota, one law is turning heads—and transforming burial traditions. The state has become the 11th in the U.S. to legalize human composting, also called terramation.

Terramation involves placing a body in a vessel with organic material, allowing it to decompose naturally into nutrient-rich soil. This process can occur at controlled facilities or in designated green cemeteries.

Micah Truman, founder and CEO of Return Home, a company offering this alternative, says the process takes just over two months. “We’ve built a facility and a scientific process that transforms the body into soil. Families are left with a nutrient-rich soil they can place anywhere they’d normally place cremated remains,” Truman explained.

In green cemeteries, bodies cannot be embalmed with toxic chemicals and must be wrapped in biodegradable materials. A recent study from the Minnesota Department of Health found that human decomposition during terramation increases nearby soil nutrients, with little risk of groundwater contamination—especially when done at recommended burial depths.

For many, the appeal is emotional and environmental. One mother, grieving her daughter, chose terramation and handed out small bags of soil to friends, encouraging them to plant flowers for bees—her daughter’s favorite cause.

“It’s a gentle return to Earth,” Truman said. “That’s something a lot of people can agree on.”

Despite the law’s passage, not all communities are ready. Carlton County has issued a one-year moratorium on green burials and composting facilities, citing the need for more time to explore regulations that protect public health and safety.

As the state weighs implementation, advocates say the future of sustainable burial is just beginning to take root.

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