Washington could become the first state to legalize using human remains as compost amid drive for 'positive funerals' 'Natural organic reduction' will allow human remains to be turned into compost The move is being touted as a step forward for environmentally-friendly funerals Lawmakers in Washington state passed a bill on Friday which could become law By George Martin For Mailonline Published: 11:46 BST, 22 April 2019 | Updated: 11:57 BST, 22 April 2019 Viewcomments Washington state could become the first state to allow human remains to be used as compost under new plans. Lawmakers in the state passed a bill on Friday last week that would allow residents to have their remains disposed of using 'natural organic reduction' after their death. The bill cites research which claims human remains would be safe for use in residential gardens and would not smell like anything other than soil. The 'natural organic reduction process' would allow people's remains to be turned into compost for use in gardens [file photo] Proponents of the bill claim it comes amid a greater demand for environmentally friendly funerals which offer an alternative to traditional burials or cremations. Katrina Spade, founder of Recompose, plans to use wood chips, alfalfa and straw to turn bodies into top soil and says the bill brings us one step closer to 'a future where every human death helps create healthy soil and heal the planet'. 'It is an understandable tendency to limit the amount of time we spend contemplating our after-death choices, but environmental realities are pressing us to develop alternatives to chemical embalming, carbon-generating cremation and the massive land use requirements of traditional cemeteries,' Ms Spade told the Telegraph. After it was passed on Friday the bill has arrived on the desk of presidential candidate and Washington's governer Jay Inslee. Katrina Spade, founder of Recompose, has plans to launch a company in Washington which will offer the service Mr Inslee, 68, is expected to sign it into law within days as a longstanding proponent of environmental innovation. The bill has reportedly been several years in the making and has even been subject to a trial in which six test subjects were organically reduced. The results were positive and 'the soil smelled like soil and nothing else,' the report said. An NBC News report last year said the procedure could cost $5,500. The bill is now reportedly on the desk of Presidential candidate and Washington Governor Jay Inslee Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility