In Australia, allowed to “compost” bodies after death – the law will work from 2028
The state of New South Wales has passed a law allowing the processing of dead bodies into compost, which will come into force in 2028. For this, the person must give consent in advance.
In the state of New South Wales, which is home to about a third of all Australians, Parliament has passed a law that allows the use of dead bodies for compost. The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
According to the publication, local lawmakers need additional time to bring the existing regulations in line with the new law, in this regard, its application will begin only in 2028. The law requires a person to consent in advance to composting their body after death.
According to the newspaper, the composting technology involves placing the body in a special tank filled with organic plant material – for example, hay, sawdust and alfalfa. To accelerate the decomposition of tissues, the temperature in the container is gradually increased. Bone remains are processed into flour and mixed with the total mass, and all non-degradable elements (including medical implants) are removed. The finished compost is placed in a container and transferred to the relatives of the deceased. The family has the right to use it to fertilize their own land or transfer it to specialized organizations, such as parks or environmental zones. The authors of the initiative hope that this approach will help to cope with the shortage of places in cemeteries and contain the growth of funeral services.
A number of MPs have raised concerns about the ethical component of the bill. In particular, the representative of the Liberal party of Australia Susan Carter noted that the human body cannot be considered only as a source of nutrients, since its value goes beyond the totality of its components.
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