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Oregon has legalized human composting

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Re: Oregon has legalized human composting

#51

Post by cogman10 »

datameta wrote: post #3

> Cremation–in which a body is burned into ash—is an energy suck and emits damaging pollutants and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. > a corpse is placed in a cylinder with organic materials, like wood chips, plants, and straw, then heated and turned repeatedly for several weeks with a hook until it’s broken down into a nutrient-rich soil I wonder how much energy it takes to complete…

I'm sure someone can calculate it, but it wouldn't be much. It'd be an electric motor running slow with relatively light weight (As for sustainability, Wouldn't be hard to power the whole thing with a solar farm and batteries. That said, oregon is part of a set of states which draw a very large portion of their power from hydro.

Re: Oregon has legalized human composting

#52

Post by cogman10 »

wonderwonder wrote: post #11

Why can't people just opt to be buried without embalming or a casket? Sounds like a nice way to go buried whole and maybe with some sort of tree seed that grows over where you are laid. Not going to lie on a personal level, the composting process sounds terrible.

Human remains can be somewhat toxic (particularly to humans).

Human remains are a breeding ground for disease that specializes in breaking down humans. Now imagine that diseased juice getting into the local water system.

Re: Oregon has legalized human composting

#53

Post by foxyv »

datameta wrote: post #3

> Cremation–in which a body is burned into ash—is an energy suck and emits damaging pollutants and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. > a corpse is placed in a cylinder with organic materials, like wood chips, plants, and straw, then heated and turned repeatedly for several weeks with a hook until it’s broken down into a nutrient-rich soil I wonder how much energy it takes to complete…

Turning a compost pile takes very little energy. So little in fact that a human can do it with one hand in a minute. Leave the container in the sun for heat, and turn it on an axle. In addition it's only once a day at most.

Heat in the winter would be less than the amount used for those electric blankets. In the summer you could almost power the composter with a car battery.

Cremation takes a about 40 kilowatt hours of electricity or fuel. The process usually requires very expensive furnaces that can get hot enough. In addition it requires special permits and there are a lot of regulations and zoning limitations.

However, 40 kwh isn't that much compared to steel and concrete production. Especially since the per capita is literally 40kwh. Most people use more than that to brush their teeth. The real advantage (of composting) is that it makes a cheaper alternative for families of deceased.

Re: Oregon has legalized human composting

#54

Post by foxyv »

soco wrote: post #6
datameta wrote: post #3

> Cremation–in which a body is burned into ash—is an energy suck and emits damaging pollutants and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. > a corpse is placed in a cylinder with organic materials, like wood chips, plants, and straw, then heated and turned repeatedly for several weeks with a hook until it’s broken down into a nutrient-rich soil I wonder how much energy it takes to complete…

I would think bone doesn't break down much during this process. So what are we left to do with the mixed-up skeleton?

Aerobic bacteria in composters can eat bone, egg shells, and meat pretty well. If you are going to do it in a garden though you will want something to contain the smell and prevent breeding of pests.

https://www.cleanairgardening.com/how-to-compost-meat/

Re: Oregon has legalized human composting

#55

Post by dang »

Y_Y wrote: post #30
rjbwork wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Personally I'd opt for a Mongolian style sky burial. They just take you out onto a mountainside, cut you up a little bit, and the carrion birds and other animals come to eat you up. Seems like the quickest way to return your elements to the earth.

That beautiful circle of life is why I'm so keen on eating Mongolian vulture meat.

Please don't do this here.

Re: Oregon has legalized human composting

#56

Post by 01100011 »

ed_balls wrote: post #19

I wonder what is the risk of prions diseases. > A 68 kg (150 lbs) body which contains 65% water will require 100 MJ of thermal energy before any combustion will take place. 100 MJ is approximately equivalent to 3 m3 (105 ft3) of natural gas, or 3 liters of fuel oil (0.8 US gallons). Additional energy is necessary to make up for the heat capacity ("preheating") of the furnace, fuel burned for emissions control, and he…

Or a big friggin fresnel lens.

Re: Oregon has legalized human composting

#57

Post by Supermancho »

cascom wrote: post #2

What happens to embedded e-waste/trash in humans (pace makers, artificial hips, implants, etc.)?

In the US, if possible, my heart valve will be cut out of my cadaver and sent back to the manufacturer for analysis. The devices from my body, that have been replaced over time, were tested until failure. The FDA is very interested in performance metrics of implanted devices. The materials are not recycled in the US afaik.

Re: Oregon has legalized human composting

#59

Post by bserge »

rovr138 wrote: post #35
Y_Y wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a solved problem! My startup is building modern, cutting-edge catacombs where we're redefining what it means to have a huge, underground maze full of decomposing human heads.

I have no idea if this is true or not... and that worries me. I think it's not, but, maybe?

It's just another Catacombs of Paris, which to be fair has stagnated, so maybe a new agile startup can do better.
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