Many years ago, cremation for the dead is not widely accepted among Filipinos. Burying the dead in public cemeteries, and later in memorial parks, is the only accepted method. It’s probably because in the past, the Catholic Church, did not allow cremation. Around 86% of Filipinos are Catholics.
In 1917, the code of Canon Law allowed cremation only in times of plague, disaster, or other situations that necessitated a quick disposal of the body. However, in 1963, the Catholic Church changed its policy and lifted the ban on cremation. Among the reasons for the shift in policy were sanitation risks, overcrowded cemeteries, and financial considerations.
Today, cremation has gained popularity, though many still prefer to bury their dead. Cremation was even mandatory for COVID-19 related deaths during the pandemic. Crematoriums, once only available in Metro Manila, have been put up in the provinces due to increasing demand. In fact, in my hometown of Mabalacat City, there’s one facility put up by the owners of a memorial park and another entity is securing a clearance to operate a new one.
Today, there are other options for the disposal of dead persons other than burying and cremation. One of these is human composting. The reason for the emergence of these alternative methods is mostly environmental, financial, and the decreasing availability of land for burial sites. Proponents of human composting dubbed it as an ecological option.
In the United States, Washington was the first state to legalize human composting in 2019. Five other states have followed with Colorado and Oregon in 2021, and California, Vermont, and New York in 2022. In my research, I did not find any other country that legally allow this process.
Human composting is a process that transforms a deceased person's body into soil. It is similar to traditional composting methods, which involve decomposing organic materials through the use of microorganisms in a controlled environment. In the case of human composting, a body is placed in a specially designed vessel along with wood chips, alfalfa, and straw. This vessel is then sealed and placed in a temperature-controlled space, where it is supplied with oxygen. Microorganisms break down the organic matter, including the bones, until all that remains is a small volume of soil.
The entire process, from placing the body into the vessel to finished soil, takes between six to eight weeks, according to a service provider. This soil can be given to the deceased person's family, or it can be donated to farms or conservation efforts as a sustainable alternative to traditional burial or cremation methods.
Legislation allowing human composting has encountered religious resistance from the Catholic Church in the United States saying it fails to show “respect for the body of the deceased. New York State Catholic Conference in a statement said composting human remains is inappropriate. Human composting may also require legislation here in the Philippines. If a bill is filed in Congress, I’m sure the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines will make a stand as well.