Alternative end-of-life practices like water cremation and human composting produce fewer emissions and return nutrients to the Earth, but access remains limited.By Emily PayneWhen Stephanie Burris drives by graveyards near her home in Boulder County, Colorado, she sees thousands of tiny landfills: Concrete boxes filled with non-biodegradable caskets, which are lined with polyester padding, filled with synthetic clothing and worst of all, containing PFAS—also known as “forever chemicals.”
Observations from the Little Bunker
Last updated: January 11, 2026 04:39 AM
Atmospheric CO₂
428.8 ppm
+18.2
ppm/year
Atmospheric CH₄
1940.59 ppb
+-0.24
ppb/year
Global Temperature
+1.48 °C
Peak: +1.73°C
World Population
8.1 billion
+67
million/year