New South Wales passes laws legalizing human composting

The New South Wales parliament has passed legislation making human composting legal, marking a first for Australia. The private member’s bill, introduced by independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich, cleared the upper house on Wednesday.

Legally referred to as “terramation,” the process is expected to begin in specialized facilities starting in 2028. The method involves placing a body in a vessel with organic materials like sawdust, hay, and lucerne. Over several weeks, heat and organic matter break the body down, leaving only bones and medical implants. The bones are subsequently ground down and mixed back into the compost.

The resulting soil can be used by families to scatter around trees or donated to landcare projects and parks. During parliamentary debates, several MPs from various parties expressed personal interest in the practice, with Nationals MP Sarah Mitchell noting that while the process may not please everyone, it is a matter of personal choice.