Largest Human Composting Facility In World Opens In Howard County

ELKRIDGE, MD — Earth Funeral has opened the largest human composting facility in the country - and the world - in Howard County.

The Elkridge facility also is the company's first on the East Coast. It can process up to 2,000 remains annually.

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Two years ago, Maryland politicians passed legislation legalizing natural organic reduction in the state.

Two years ago, Maryland politicians passed legislation legalizing natural organic reduction in the state.

Coined as returning to nature through soil transformation, human composting is a "natural alternative" to burial or cremation that "cremates new life."

According to Earth Funeral, remains are wrapped in a biodegradable shroud and placed in a vessel with organic mulch, wood chips and wildflowers. The vessel accelerates natural decomposition, producing nutrient-rich soil in approximately 30 days.

At the end of the process, any inorganics are removed from the soil (metal, implants, medical devices, etc.) and recycle them. They then reduce the bones to a fine powder along with the soil. This is the same process that is performed after cremation and uses similar equipment. Bones are biodegradable, but the process is naturally very slow, Earth Funeral stated.

Founded in 2020, Earth Funeral has invested $15 million in research and development to perfect its natural organic reduction method. The process yields one cubic yard of nutrient-rich soil. Families can pot, plant or share their soil as a way to keep a living connection to their loved ones.

"It's a way to give back to the natural world that sustained us, helping restore forests, sequester carbon and renew challenged ecosystems," Earth Funeral stated on its website.

Located at 6955 San Tomas Rd. in Elkridge, the largest human composting facility in the U.S. also has facilities in Washington and Nevada.

Stephen Spiese of Pennsylvania drove to Elkridge to tour the new facility during its grand opening this week. He said it wasn't just for himself, but to better understand the process his wife went through when she passed away.

"I'm pretty sure this will be the way I go, with Earth Funeral," Spiese told WBAL-TV. "Knowing her, I can't think of any other way that she would've wanted that to happen."

Spiese said that when his wife chose to have her remains turned into soil, Earth Funeral only had facilities on the West Coast, which required her remains to be shipped.

Anyone interested in touring the facility or setting up an appointment to arrange services can visit Earth Funeral.