Human Composting In Perth Australia: A Full Guide
Current Status And Future Possibilities Of Human Composting In Perth Australia
Is human composting available in Perth Australia? Human composting in Perth Australia is not currently legal and available. It is also currently not legal throughout Australia. Several factors, which revolve primarily around the controversial process of the composting and potential harmful effects of disease related pathogens and environment, contribute to this.
In Australia, there is an available alternative that helps us return to earth in the most natural and safe way possible which is Living Legacy Tree. This process turns cremated ashes into tree nutrients like potassium and nitrogen so your ashes help the tree grow. Over 2000 families have chosen this option, you can treat ashes and become Living Legacy Trees in Wellington Dam Living Legacy Forest if you live in Western Australia, or Mornington Green Living Legacy Gardens if you live in Melbourne, or Macquarie Park if you live in Sydney.
Even though human composting is not legal and poses risk, we would like to help you understand more about human composting in Perth Australia. This article will tell you more about human composting and provide insights regarding its definition, how it works, and the processes along the way.
What Is Human Composting In Perth Australia?
Human composting is commonly known as Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) or terramation. It tries to transform your body into soil using microorganisms and through wrapping a deceased body in biodegradable materials, placing the body in organic containers like straw and alfalfa. . It is far more expensive than cremation and burial at around $7,000- $9,000 (Australian Dollars equivalent) plus and this is without a funeral service or memorial.
How Does Human Composting Work In Perth Australia?
A deceased body is carefully placed in a special container filled with natural materials that help it break down safely and naturally. Here’s how it usually works:
- The body is washed and wrapped in biodegradable materials. All implants and jewellery and non man made parts are removed.
- It is placed in a specialized container with organic matter, namely chips, straw, and alfalfa.
- The vessel maintains optimal temperature and humidity for natural decomposition.
- Microorganisms work to break down the remains within 30-90 days
- The result is approximately one cubic meter of soil.
During this natural transformation, experts closely monitor everything to ensure the body breaks down correctly and becomes usable soil. The temperature inside the container gets quite warm, usually between 55-71°C. This heat is the key to gently breaking down the body and eliminating only some of the harmful germs. Some pathogens can exist at temperatures higher than this so it’s not completely safe from a health perspective.
What Is The Process Of Human Composting In Perth Australia?
The human composting process consists of specific stages. Here’s a breakdown of the typical steps involved in human composting in Perth Australia:
Initial preparation stage
- The body is gently washed and cleansed and implants removed before being wrapped in biodegradable materials.
- It is then placed in a specially designed composting vessel.
- Organic materials, such as wood chips, alfalfa, and straw, are added around the body.
- The moisture levels are carefully adjusted to create the ideal conditions for microbial activity.
Decomposition stage
- Naturally occurring microbes initiate the process of decomposition
- The temperature is maintained at an optimal level to help decomposition.
- Oxygen levels are continuously monitored and adjusted.
- The vessel can be rotated periodically. This will ensure complete decomposition.
- This stage typically lasts 5–7 weeks.
Screening and processing stage
- All non-organic substances (medical implants or dental work) are removed.
- Any remaining bone fragments are processed further to integrate with the soil.
- The material is carefully screened to ensure quality.
Final curing period
- The soil will be treated specially for an extra three to five weeks.
- The levels of moisture and pH are balanced to promote plant growth.
- Final testing to ensure that the soil is safe and nutrient-rich.
Current Legal Status Of Human Composting in Perth, Australia
For now, human composting has yet to be legal in Perth or anywhere else in Australia. Australian law currently dictates that our remains must be handled in one of two ways: burial in designated grounds or cremation in licensed facilities. Unfortunately, the soil created through human composting would likely be classified as human remains under existing definitions. Also the soil created through human composting still poses risks.
Untreated human ashes from human composting are actually harmful to the environment. Untreated ashes have a pH of 12 out of 14 – that’s as high as bleach or an oven cleaner. Also, they contain about two cups of salts, which is terrible for soil and plants. Based on a research in Melbourne, 90% of seedlings die when planted directly in untreated ashes.
So the reality is the legislation in Australia still prohibits human composting in Australia because the process of human composting does not remediate all risks of untreated human ashes.
Also, the reality is bodies have been biodegrading on the planet for billions in years and there really is no need or benefit for a machine that does what nature does at quite an expensive cost. The idea has appeal because people love nature and the machine just emulates nature’s process.
Environmental Benefits of Human Composting In Perth Australia
Human composting has environmental benefits, especially compared to traditional burial and cremation methods:
- Zero Emission: While cremation releases carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere, human composting does not emit harmful emissions.
- No Chemical Contamination: Traditional burial often involves embalming fluids that can leach into the soil and groundwater. Human composting avoids these chemicals.
- Resource Conservation: The process needs very little and does not take up land like a regular burial.
- Soil Creation: Instead of using all the resources, human composting makes soil full of nutrients suitable for new plants to grow.
- Carbon Sequestration: When the resulting soil is used to grow plants, it can help store carbon, reducing the plants’ climate impact.
But it comes at a cost 3-5 times higher than cremation. Planting a single Living Legacy Tree offsets the impact of cremation to a net positive impact not just in carbon but also with oxygen and habitat for wildlife. Living Legacy Trees are the only proven form of human composting in Australia.
These benefits align with Australia’s broader environmental goals, including the National Waste Policy Action Plan Target 6, which aims to halve the amount of organic waste sent to landfills by 2030.
Available Alternatives Of Human Composting In Perth Australia
Because human composting in Perth Australia is illegal. Several eco-friendly alternatives are currently available
Living Legacy Trees At Wellington Dam Living Legacy Forest
Wellington Dam Living Legacy Forest helps you transform cremated remains into nutrients that nourish trees in a protected conservation forest, where you can choose native Australia trees and plant them in the forest.
In some ways, it is significantly better than human composting because it has a smaller environmental footprint and better value, as it also includes a perpetual memorial, which is an additional benefit over natural burial.
Overall, A Living Legacy Tree is more affordable than burial or human composting. It is also more attractive than burial, as when you plant A Living Legacy Tree in Wellington Dam, it is located in a Jarrah forest with ancient trees and a winter creek running through it. Furthermore, it is more sustainable, as it is the only funeral option with a net positive impact.
A Living Legacy Tree at Wellington Dam Legacy Forest is around $4,500 which is less than ⅓ of the price of a traditional burial which is typically between $12,000-$19,000.
The protected forest is managed by Legacy Conservation Forest a registered charity that creates habitat for endangered species onsite like the Mainland Quokka and Black Cockatoo.
This approach achieves the best of both worlds and environmental outcomes.
- Treating cremated remains to transform them into beneficial nutrients
- Using these nutrients to nourish a memorial tree
- Creating a living, growing tribute in a protected forest.
This option is legal and available throughout Australia, at Wellington Dam, Mornington Green Melbourne, and Macquarie Park New South Wales.
Learn More About Living Legacy Trees Here!
Natural Burial
Natural burial is a legal option in Western Australia that is more environmentally friendly than traditional burial. It involves:
- The burial of a body without using a casket or coffin, in a biodegradable shroud.
- No concrete for grave liners or burial vaults.
- Natural grave markers, such as trees or rocks, are used (sometimes no marker is placed, with locations being recorded via GPS)
In Perth, Fremantle Cemetery offers a natural burial for your loved one. Instead of headstones, they use native plants as grave markers.
But the problem of natural burial in Perth Australia, is that burial creates enough methane to kill a tree by burning its roots. So if you choose trees as headstones, without proper treatment like Living Legacy Trees, the deceased body can kill the tree and badly affect the environment. Also, in Perth, interments are only for 30 years, if you don’t repay you get removed.
Water Cremation Or Aquamation
This process, alkaline hydrolysis, uses alkaline chemicals, water, and heat to accelerate natural decomposition. It is considered a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional cremation as it uses significantly less energy and produces no harmful air emissions. Moreover, water cremation also gives environmental advantages, such as reduced carbon footprint, water effluent, and preservation of bone remains.
Although water cremation facilities are not yet available in Western Australia, they exist in Queensland but are 3 times the price of cremation.
The Future of Human Composting in Perth Australia
For human composting to become legal Perth, the following would likely need to be implemented:
- Legislative changes to funeral, cemetery, and cremation acts at the state and national levels
- Development of specific regulations for human composting facilities
- Establishment of licensing and monitoring procedures
- Construction of purpose-built facilities with appropriate technology
- Training of operators and funeral professionals
- Public education and engagement about human composting.
Concerns about waste products and disease mitigation continue to prevent the legalisation of human composting. Human composting involves a process that nature has been doing for billions of years. With the harmful risks of untreated ashes, there is a very low possibility that human composting will be legalised in Perth or Australia.
How To Make The Best End Of Life Choices In Perth Australia
End-of-life planning is a deeply personal matter. If you are thinking about the future or planning for someone you care about, it is good to consider all your options and choose what you feel is right.
If you are a Perth resident interested in environmentally conscious end-of-life options, here are some suggestions for you:
- Research the natural burial options currently available in your area.
- Think about ways to turn the ashes of someone who has died into a living memory, like a Living Legacy Tree at Wellington Dam..
- Keep up to date with the latest legal progress on human composting and be aware of the costs and services associated with these options.
Although the process is controversial, mimicking what nature has been doing these past billions of years, human composting in Perth Australia represents an innovative approach to end-of-life care that aligns with a growing environmental consciousness. Although residents of Perth and other Australian cities are not currently able to do this option due to legal restrictions, there is a legal alternative option that offers way better benefits with net positive impact not just in carbon but also with oxygen and habitat for wildlife, it is Living Legacy Tree in Wellington Dam Living Legacy Forest.
Are you interested in learning more about these sustainable options and how they can create a meaningful legacy? We invite you to explore the possibilities further with Wellington Dam Living Legacy Forest. Contact here.
To learn more about end of life planning and green burials, you can contact Wellington Dam Living Legacy Forest.
Learn More About Wellington Dam Living Legacy Forest
If you need to reach us directly or need directions, our number is 0427 096 944.
