Fresno Supervisors Consider Banning Human Compost on Farms and Public Land

Concerns over potential health risks prompt proposed ordinance to prohibit use of decomposed human remains as fertilizer.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 8:34pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a single, iconic gardening tool such as a shovel or rake repeated in a tight grid pattern, utilizing flat, vibrant, and unnatural neon color palettes overlapping with heavy black photographic outlines to transform an everyday object into modern pop art.As local officials debate the safety of using decomposed human remains as fertilizer, the visual metaphor of an iconic gardening tool repeated in a bold pop art style captures the tension between emerging death care practices and public health concerns.Fresno Today

Fresno County supervisors are set to consider a proposed ordinance that would ban the application of human compost as fertilizer on farm and public land within the county. Supervisors Garry Bredefeld and Nathan Magsig cite insufficient scientific research on the potential public health impacts of using decomposed human bodies as organic matter, despite a new state law that legalized the practice starting in 2027.

Why it matters

The proposed ban highlights growing local concerns about the safety and oversight of human composting, which was recently legalized across California. Fresno officials want to ensure any use of human compost does not introduce potential contaminants into the local food supply or environment before the long-term effects are better understood.

The details

The ordinance would prohibit the use of human compost as fertilizer on both private farmland and public lands managed by the county. This comes after the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust faced backlash for using human compost on the Sumner Peck Ranch. Supervisors argue there are still many unknowns about pathogens and other potential health risks associated with the decomposition process, despite proponents touting it as an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional burial or cremation.

  • The Fresno County Board of Supervisors will consider the proposed ordinance on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.
  • California law is set to legalize the use of human composting across the state starting in 2027.

The players

Garry Bredefeld

Fresno County Supervisor who is proposing the ban on human compost usage.

Nathan Magsig

Fresno County Supervisor who is co-sponsoring the proposed ordinance.

Cristina Garcia

Former California Assemblymember who authored the 2022 state law that legalized human composting.

San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust

Local conservation group that faced backlash for using human compost on its Sumner Peck Ranch property.

Sumner Peck Ranch

A property managed by the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust where human compost was applied as fertilizer.

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What they’re saying

“We want to make sure that when it comes to organic matter, if there are pathogens present, we don't want to create a situation where there's food grown on private land that's being sold in public markets that could have contaminants in it.”

— Nathan Magsig, Fresno County Supervisor

“There's a lot that is still unknown about human compost. Who even knew about this until it was discovered they were using it by the river?”

— Garry Bredefeld, Fresno County Supervisor

What’s next

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors will vote on the proposed ordinance banning human compost on Tuesday, April 8, 2026. If passed, the ban would go into effect immediately, prohibiting the use of decomposed human remains as fertilizer on both private farmland and public lands within the county.

The takeaway

This proposed ban in Fresno County highlights the ongoing debate around the safety and regulation of human composting, a practice that was recently legalized across California. Local officials are taking a cautious approach, citing concerns over potential health risks, until more research can be done on the long-term impacts of using decomposed human remains as organic matter.