Fresno County officials say they were “shocked” to learn that compost made from human remains was being spread on public land along the San Joaquin River in Central California.
The San Joaquin River Parkway Trust has now agreed to stop the practice at its 76‑acre Sumner Peck Ranch after the county issued a cease‑and‑desist order, citing state law and grant restrictions. The trust had partnered with Earth Funerals, a Washington‑based company that promotes human composting as an alternative to burial or cremation, for nearly a year.
The revelation has triggered backlash from county leaders, a state agency, and local tribes who say the practice crossed legal and cultural lines…