Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Visits Arizona to Showcase Investments in Wildfire Resilience and Rural Prosperity

Governor Hobbs Legalizes Human Composting As Eco-Friendly Alternative to Burial and Cremation in the State of Arizona

Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs has recently approved a law that legalizes human composting.

The ‘Grandpa in the Garden Bill,’ also known as House Bill 2081, has been signed into law by Hobbs. Individuals now have more options for the disposal of their deceased loved ones.

The passing of this legislation will allow individuals to convert their deceased family members into nutrient-rich soil through a method known as human composting. The natural organic reduction process, involves breaking down human remains into compost or soil to use in personal gardens or backyards, rather than being buried or cremated.


The procedure includes immersing a person’s body in sizable containers filled with wood chips, straw, and other organic substances for approximately four to six weeks, resulting in the transformation of the body into soil.

Once the composting process has been completed, family members have the option to utilize the soil for tree planting or incorporate it into their personal gardens.

The state of Arizona has become the 8th state to give approval for human composting. States such as California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Vermont, Nevada, and New York have all previously legalized this practice.