After death, some Marylanders are choosing to become soil instead of ashes

MARYLAND (WBFF) — Maryland residents are increasingly rethinking what happens to their bodies after death, fueling demand for alternatives that turn human remains into soil, dissolve them in water instead of flame, or bury them beneath forests instead of rows of headstones.

That shift is helping transform Maryland into a hub for what advocates call “green death care,” including the opening this month of what its operators say is the world’s largest human composting facility in Elkridge.

Human composting involves placing a dead body in a shroud made of plant-based materials and then moving it into a vessel with mulch, wood chips and wildflowers where it spends about 30 days decomposing. The end result is about 300 pounds of rich soil, which loved ones can add to a garden or return to the Earth in places significant to them.

Earth Funeral defines its service as “an affordable alternative to cremation that gently turns bodies into soil.” The company’s service costs between $5,000 and $7,000, similar to the cost of cremation with funeral services. Direct cremation is cheaper, as it doesn’t include a viewing or ceremonies, and could cost about $2,000. Conventional burial with embalming and a funeral service can cost around $9,000.

Read the full story on the Baltimore Sun.