New York becomes the 6th state in the nation to legalize human composting, technically known as natural organic reduction. Democratic governor Kathy hochul signed legislation on the last day of the year to allow human composting, which is considered an environmentally conscious method of burial, the body is placed in a reusable vessel along with plant material, such as wood chips, alfalfa and straw. The organic mix breaks the body down in about a month, the end result a cubic yard of nutrient dense soil or about 36 bags of it. The New York State Catholic conference calls it inappropriate and says human bodies are not household waste. Washington state Colorado Oregon, Vermont and California also allow human composting. Julie Walker, New York.