New South Wales has passed Australia-first legislation allowing human remains to be turned into soil through a process known as human composting, creating a third legal option alongside burial and cremation.
The Public Health Amendment (Terramation) Bill 2026 amends the Public Health Act 2010 to provide for natural organic reduction, also known as composting, of human remains as an alternative to burial or cremation.
Introduced as a private member’s bill by independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich, the legislation originated in the Legislative Assembly. Its short title was amended from the Public Health Amendment (Natural Organic Reduction) Bill 2026 to the Public Health Amendment (Terramation) Bill 2026 on 15 October.
The bill passed Parliament on Wednesday, 21 October, and was listed as awaiting assent. It gives the NSW Government 18 months to develop regulations governing the practice, with human composting expected to become available in specialised facilities from 2028.
Greenwich travelled to Germany and the United States to research the practice, which is permitted in some jurisdictions overseas.
Known formally as natural organic reduction or terramation, the process involves placing a body in a temperature-controlled vessel with organic materials such as straw, alfalfa or mulch. Microbial activity breaks down the body over about 30 days, followed by a further resting period of around 30 days.
Aria Kapaniris, founder of Evergrove, told The Australia Today that the term “terramation” offered a more dignified and respectful way to describe the process than “human composting”, which carries associations with waste.
“‘Human composting’ terminology is being phased out due to its undignified waste connotations, in favour of the more appropriate term terramation,” Kapaniris said.
“This is the legal and public-facing terminology in NSW and it’s expected that other domestic and international jurisdictions will follow.”
She acknowledged that some people preferred the term composting because it directly reflects the biological process through which human remains return to the earth.
“Some feel that composting is more to the point because, like all living things, humans are made of organic matter and our bodies are biologically built to return to the earth,” she said.
However, Kapaniris argued that straightforward terminology was not always the most appropriate way to discuss death and the treatment of human remains. Drawing a comparison with cremation, she said the historical adoption of the term “cremation” rather than “incineration” demonstrated how language could shape public understanding and acceptance.
“Language is powerful and there are sensitivities that must be observed for how we talk about our deceased loved ones,” she said, adding that most jurisdictions did not classify human remains as waste and that the word “composting” would continue to carry waste-related connotations.
Kapaniris said Evergrove supported the wider adoption of “terramation” not only because it conveyed greater dignity, but also because the company wanted to help make conversations about death less taboo.
“We want to help create a world where death is less taboo,” she said.
“We think this looks like our society talking more openly about death so that we can broaden our collective understanding of this core human experience, and relate more to each other and ourselves.”
She said providers had a responsibility to make discussions about death and end-of-life choices more approachable, particularly when the subject could already feel confronting or frightening to families.
“If the door to conversations about death is already confronting and scary, providers like us have a responsibility to help make that door feel more inviting, and language is a key part of how we do that.”
It is reported that several MPs have indicated they would consider the option for themselves.
Libertarian MP John Ruddick told Parliament he was likely to request terramation in his will, saying he liked the idea of nourishing the earth and allowing a tree to grow in his memory.
Labor MP Cameron Murphy also expressed support, saying he looked forward to using the service in the distant future.
As per The Guardian, supporters say terramation could reduce the land required for conventional burial and avoid the energy consumption and emissions associated with cremation. The process can also allow families to hold ceremonies at different stages, including when the body is placed in the vessel and when the resulting soil is collected.
However, Liberal MP Susan Carter stressed the importance of ensuring human remains continued to be treated with dignity and respect, warning that terramation should not simply become a “human compost bin”.
The legislation establishes the legal pathway for the practice, but its implementation will depend on the bill receiving assent, the NSW Government developing regulations and specialised facilities being established.
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