Exploring options in how we plan, provide, and advocate for ourselves and others at the approach of - and after -death. This piece aims to create an alluring conversation opener to introduce the newer death care process of body recomposition (also known as human composting) : the accelerated decomposition of a deceased person’s body into nutrient-rich soil through natural processes.

Human composting is an above ground process where the body is placed in a vessel, ‘laid in’ with a mixture of wood chips, alfalfa and straw tailored to the individual then closed. The vessel is overseen by operators to ensure correct temperature and moisture is monitored during the process. After (on average five to seven weeks) the resulting soil is removed from the vessel and placed in a ‘curing container’ for an additional three to five weeks. When complete, the soil (approx 0.7 cubic metres) is rich in essential nutrients, capable of wide-spread use such as sentimental scattering, land regeneration, specific use in community parkland and agriculture. 

This process is not currently available in Australia but is being advocated for in the ACT.