NSW Regulations and Offences for the Composting of Human Remains

Public Health Amendment (Natural Organic Reduction) Bill 2026

Independent Bill

25 Jun 2026: MPs in the first house are debating whether this bill is a good idea in principle.

Legislative Assembly

Legislative Council

Assent

Introduced by: Alex Greenwich (IND)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

People cannot dispose of composted human remains as waste or landfill; they face a maximum fine of 10 penalty units (2026: $1,100).
Unauthorised composting of human remains is now a criminal offence.
The government can make regulations on how bodies are composted; this includes registration, fees, and premises inspections.
Reduction controllers can compost bodies at reduction facilities starting 18 months after the law passes.
Reduction controllers must give composted remains to the applicant, or to whoever else the dead person named in their written directions.
Reduction controllers can dispose of remains in a burial ground if the applicant does not collect them within a reasonable time; they must give 14 days notice first.
The legal definition of interment no longer includes the burial or placement of remains for composting.
Buildings or places used for composting human remains are no longer defined as cemeteries.

Topics

death care disposal of remains funeral practices human composting public health

News articles and press releases

Public Health Amendment (Natural Organic Reduction) Bill 2026

Mr ALEX GREENWICH, Member for Sydney — 2026-06-25

An alternative to burial and cremation, scientifically known as natural organic reduction, or sometimes referred to as terramation or human body composting, has been introduced in 14 states in the United States and one state in Germany, where it will be rolled out more broadly. The Public Health Legislation Amendment (Natural Organic Reduction) Bill 2026 would facilitate the introduction of natural organic reduction as a lawful and controlled option in New South Wales. Natural organic reduction is a natural and gentle process for transforming a deceased human body into compost. The body is placed in a temperature-controlled vessel with organic matter like alfalfa, straw and mulch. Like with cremation, battery-operated devices like pacemakers are removed before this step.