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Even in death, some people still worry about their carbon footprint. Which explains the growing popularity of “green burials” — an environmentally friendlier way to inter the dead that involves no embalming chemicals, headstones or traditional caskets.

There’s even a company that offers coffins and urns made of fully biodegradable mushrooms.

But what about human composting? Is that green option any closer to becoming a reality in Ontario?

Known as “terramation,” the process uses organic material and a specially designed vessel to slowly transform human remains into soil. The practice is now legal in 14 U.S. states after New Jersey — “The Garden State,” ironically enough — became the latest to get on board.

Nearly six years ago, in March 2020, Ontario put out a call for public feedback on "emerging alternative technologies" for disposing of human remains, including composting. Little has happened since. As of today, no Canadian jurisdiction allows the practice.

On tonight’s episode of Closer Look, we revisit a conversation from 2024 with Morgan Yarborough, the services manager at Seattle-based Recompose, the first funeral home in America to offer human composting.

She explains in detail how the process works, why it's gaining popularity, and what advice she would give the Ontario government.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

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