New eco burial options are emerging across Australia
A new not-for-profit company, Earthly Legacy, and a Sydney lawmaker are seeking to make human composting a legal alternative to burial and cremation in New South Wales, arguing it would offer families a less expensive and more environmentally sustainable option. Alex Greenwich, the independent member for Sydney, introduced legislation on June 26 that, if passed, will pave the way for what is scientifically known as natural organic reduction.
The process, also called "terramation," is already legal in Germany and 14 American states with another 16 considering the option. Although both Tasmania and the ACT have "enabling legislation" to allow for human composting, no regulations have yet been put in place. If the NSW legislation is successful, it will be the first Australian state or territory to legislate and regulate for human composting.
The body of the deceased is placed in a specialised vessel containing materials such as wood chips or sawdust, straw and lucerne hay. Over the first month, ideal conditions are created inside the sealed vessel to allow naturally occurring microbes to break down the soft tissue. As happens in cremation the process eventually produces what is referred to as “ashes”. This material is then placed back into the compost in a second vessel for another month in a further curing stage. The process produces roughly one cubic metre (110kg) of nutrient-rich soil/compost, which families can use in gardens or donate to land-conservation projects.
For proponents, the appeal is as much financial as environmental. Greenwich and Earthly Legacy founder Teresa Russell say that Sydney is running short of burial space and that burial sites alone often cost around $22,000, while conventional funerals can cost thousands more depending on the service and coffin chosen. Russell has spent two years campaigning to legalise human composting, citing affordability and environmental sustainability as central to the case for change.
“I started off wanting human composting for environmental reasons, as it can save up to one tonne of carbon from going into the atmosphere compared with burial or cremation, but I realised that this was also an opportunity to minimise the financial cost for people who face funeral poverty, which is why I’ve set up Earthly Legacy as a nonprofit," Russell said. Until legislation is enacted, the next best body disposition option is "shroud" or "natural" burial she said.
When NSW Premier Chris Minns first heard about human composting from Alex Greenwich MP, he said he felt “a bit weird about it” and intends to examine the proposal, which is likely to be voted on in October. Advocates acknowledge that some religious and cultural objections could delay the option becoming legal. Greenwich and supporters say the legislation is not about replacing burial or cremation, but adding another good, affordable option that aligns with many people’s values that turns the end of a life into a soil benefit and climate-friendly way to go.
Hear more about how human composting works and why Alex Greenwich is putting legislation forward to make it legal.
You can support Earthly Legacy's not-for-profit work to legalise human composting here.
