Green-Wood Cemetery to offer 'human composting' starting in 2027

Brooklyn's historic cemetery partners with German company to provide eco-friendly burial option

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Starting next year, Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn will offer a new burial option called 'natural organic reduction,' also known as human composting. The process involves sealing bodies in specialized 'pods' with hay, straw, and alfalfa, which then break down into nutrient-rich soil over 40 days. Green-Wood will partner with the German 'terramation' company Meine Erde to offer this service, becoming the first cemetery in New York to provide human composting after the state legalized the practice in 2023.

Why it matters

Human composting is a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional burial and cremation methods, which can have significant environmental impacts. Green-Wood Cemetery, a registered arboretum, is exploring this option to help fight climate change, protect its natural environment, and provide more burial space for the nearly 600,000 'permanent residents' across its 478 acres.

The details

In the human composting process, bodies are sealed in specialized 'pods' on a bed of hay, straw, and alfalfa. The pods are designed to regulate moisture and airflow, and rock gently back and forth to help speed decomposition. After 40 days, the contents of the pod break down into roughly 160 pounds of nutrient-dense soil, which will be used to support Green-Wood's many plants and trees.

  • Green-Wood Cemetery will make human composting an official option in early 2027.
  • The state of New York legalized human composting in 2023.

The players

Green-Wood Cemetery

A historic cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, that is a registered arboretum and has worked to fight climate change and protect its natural environment.

Meine Erde

A German 'terramation' company that Green-Wood Cemetery will partner with to offer human composting services.

Meera Joshi

The president of Green-Wood Cemetery.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's really important to think about this as just another way that we are dealing with death. If you look throughout history, there's been so many different ways between cultures and over time on how people memorialize death. In some senses, this is the original way. It just has the benefit of technology so it can happen faster.”

— Meera Joshi, President, Green-Wood Cemetery (Brooklyn Paper)

“[People who are interested] are very interested in the cycle of life, and they want to really have a more immediate ceremony that honors that. With returning the body directly to earth, by being part of the earth, people will feel that connection.”

— Meera Joshi, President, Green-Wood Cemetery (Brooklyn Paper)

What’s next

Before Green-Wood can start officially offering human composting, it must work with the state's Division of Cemeteries and Department of Health to ensure all regulations are being met, and all staff who will be involved will receive special training.

The takeaway

Green-Wood Cemetery's move to offer human composting demonstrates a growing demand for more eco-friendly burial options that honor the natural cycle of life. This innovative approach not only reduces the environmental impact of traditional burial and cremation, but also provides a meaningful way for New Yorkers to be laid to rest and contribute to the cemetery's lush natural landscape.