What is Natural Organic Reduction?
Natural organic reduction (NOR), sometimes called human composting or terramation, is an end-of-life disposition method in which the human body is transformed into nutrient-rich soil through an accelerated, controlled decomposition process.
The body is placed in a vessel with organic materials — typically wood chips, straw, and alfalfa — which create the ideal conditions for microbial activity to break down remains over a period of roughly four to six weeks.
Heat generated during decomposition, often reaching 130–160°F, sanitizes the material and ensures complete transformation. The result is approximately one cubic yard of rich compost that families may return to the earth — spread on land, used to nourish trees, or donated to conservation efforts.
First legalized in Washington State in 2019, NOR has since been adopted by a growing number of states as awareness of its ecological advantages spreads. Compared to burial or cremation, it sequesters carbon rather than releasing it, requires no embalming chemicals, and returns the body to the nutrient cycle in a way that actively benefits living ecosystems.
For many, it represents not merely a green alternative but a philosophically resonant final act — a deliberate return to the land rather than a departure from it.
Where is NOR (Human Composting) Legal?
Here is the current list of the 14 U.S. states where NOR is legal, with links to relevant regulations and brief status notes for each.
1. Washington
🔗 [WA Dept. of Health – NOR Regulations]
Washington was the first state to legalize NOR, with the law signed in 2019 and taking effect in May 2020. The state's regulatory framework is the most mature in the country, with licensed providers including Recompose, Return Home, Earth Funeral, and Herland Forest already operational. Washington remains the national model and reference point for all subsequent state legislation.
2. Colorado
🔗 [CO Revised Statutes – Title 12, Funeral Services]
Colorado legalized NOR in August 2021, with the first composting completed in March 2022. The Natural Funeral is among the active providers in the state. Colorado's early adoption positioned it as a western leader alongside Washington, and its regulatory infrastructure is well established.
3. Oregon
🔗 [OR Mortuary & Cemetery Board]
Oregon legalized NOR in 2021, making it one of the earliest adopters. Services are available through providers like Earth Funeral, and the state has integrated NOR into its existing funeral licensing framework with minimal friction. Oregon's progressive death care culture has supported steady uptake.
4. Vermont
🔗 [VT Secretary of State – Funeral Licensing]
Vermont legalized NOR in 2022. As a smaller state, active provider infrastructure is still developing, but residents may access services through licensed facilities in neighboring states while local capacity grows. Vermont's law reflects its broader commitment to environmental stewardship.
5. California
🔗 [CA AB 351 (2022)]
California's NOR law was approved in 2022 but services will not be available until 2027 as the state completes its regulatory rulemaking process. Given California's size and population, its eventual implementation is expected to dramatically expand national access and provider capacity. Residents may currently use out-of-state licensed facilities.
6. New York
🔗 [NY Public Health Law – SB 7608]
New York approved NOR in December 2022, with the law becoming effective in August 2024. As one of the most populous states, New York's entry into the NOR space is significant. Regulatory oversight falls under the state's Department of Health, and provider licensing is actively underway.
7. Nevada
🔗 [NV SB 344 (2023)]
Nevada approved NOR in May 2023, with the law taking effect in January 2024. Earth Funeral operates in Nevada, giving residents immediate access to services. Nevada's law is notable for its clean statutory language and relatively streamlined licensing requirements.
8. Arizona
Arizona approved NOR in April 2024. Natural Organic Reduction of Arizona (NORAZ) is among the early licensed providers, offering services to both in-state and out-of-state families. The state's implementation has been relatively swift following enactment.
9. Maryland
Maryland approved NOR in May 2024, with the law taking effect in October 2024. The Mid-Atlantic region had lacked a legal NOR state until Maryland's passage, making it an important hub for residents of surrounding states such as Virginia, Pennsylvania, and DC.
10. Delaware
🔗 [DE SB 188 (2024)]
Delaware approved NOR in May 2024. As a small state with a large neighboring population base, Delaware's law opens access for residents of the broader Mid-Atlantic corridor. Regulatory implementation is ongoing under the state's Board of Funeral Services.
11. Minnesota
Minnesota's NOR bill was signed into law in May 2024 and took effect in July 2025. The law includes licensure requirements for NOR facilities and associated fees. Minnesota becomes the anchor state for NOR access in the Upper Midwest.
12. Maine
Maine approved NOR in June 2024, with the law taking effect in August 2024. Maine's adoption reflects a broader New England trend toward sustainable death care. With Vermont already legal, the region is developing a growing cluster of NOR-accessible states for northeastern families.
13. Georgia
🔗 [GA HB 364 (2025)]
Georgia legalized NOR in 2025, with the law taking effect July 1, 2025. Georgia's adoption is notable as the first Southern state to legalize NOR, signaling that the practice is breaking through regional and cultural resistance. It opens meaningful access for residents across the Southeast.
14. New Jersey
🔗 [NJ – Governor Murphy Signing (Sept. 2025)]
On September 12, 2025, Governor Murphy signed NOR into law, making New Jersey the 14th state to permit the composting of human bodies. The Board of Mortuary Science has yet to issue the governing regulations as of the time of enactment. New Jersey's law includes important consumer protections — prohibiting the sale of soil containing human remains, restricting commingling of remains without consent, and barring use of the resulting soil for commercial food production.
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Note: Several additional states — including Illinois, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Hawaii — have active or pending legislation as of mid-2026.