Earth Funeral to Spread Human Composted Remains on Eastern Shore Site for Reforestation
Earth Funeral, a company specializing in human composting as an alternative to traditional burial and cremation, has secured zoning approval to spread human composted remains on a 14.5-acre site in Snow Hill, Eastern Shore, Maryland. This decision follows the opening of their first East Coast facility in Elkridge, Maryland, which houses 50 decomposition vessels and plans to expand to 126. The process involves placing deceased individuals into a 4-by-8-foot stainless steel vessel with wood chips and wildflowers, mimicking natural decomposition. After 30 to 60 days, the body transforms into 250 to 300 pounds of nutrient-rich compost. Families can take home a portion of this soil, while unclaimed remains will be transported from Elkridge to the Snow Hill site twice a year in sealed containers and tilled into the land at a rate of one to two acres annually. Maryland legalized natural organic reduction in 2024 with the Green Death Care Options Act, making it one of 14 states to permit this practice. The company... 
