INSIDE THE VILLAGE: Should Ontario allow your dead body to be composted?

​Welcome back to Inside the Village, a one-of-a-kind podcast where all news is local — and no topic is off-limits.

On this week's episode: Environmentally friendly funerals.

Nearly four years ago, provincial regulators put out a call for public feedback on "emerging alternative technologies" for disposing of human remains, including composting.

But as The Trillium recently reported, the green light has yet to be given for this greener alternative to traditional burials and cremation. 

Simply put, human composting (also called natural organic reduction, or "terramation") involves putting the body in a container with a large amount of organic material such as straw or alfalfa. After about two months, the body and organic material form about 1.5 cubic metres of compost — enough to fill the back of a pickup truck — which can then be scattered, buried or used to plant a tree. 

Though not legal anywhere in Canada, human composting is allowed in a handful of U.S. states — including Seattle, where Recompose was the first funeral home in America to offer it. Morgan Yarborough, the services manager at Recompose, joins us on the podcast to talk about how the process works, why it's gaining popularity, and why Ontario should get on board.

Also on this episode: Welcome to the Village, Oakville News!

Hosted by Scott Sexsmith and Michael Friscolanti, the Editor-in-Chief of Village Media, Inside the Village is a news and current affairs podcast that provides a weekly window into some of the best local journalism from across our chain of Ontario newsrooms. Produced by Derek Turner, the program also explores bigger-picture issues that impact people across the province.

Every episode is available HERE. If you prefer the audio version, it is available wherever you find your favourite podcasts.

Have something to say? You can reach us at itv@villagemedia.ca.