From dust to dust: Is human composting the new way to bury the dead?
6/21/202621 min
For decades now, if someone died, there were two choices: burial, or cremation.
But soon, Australians may get a third choice for how they choose to farewell their loved ones, thanks to a growing trend overseas.
Today, senior writer Bevan Shields on human composting: a method of burial that may give you the ick, but that is giving many others profound peace of mind.
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First 90 secondsSamantha Selinger-Morris· Host0:00
[gentle music] For decades now, if a loved one died, there were two choices: burial or cremation. But soon Australians may get a third choice for how they choose to farewell their loved ones, thanks to a growing trend overseas. I'm Samantha Selinger-Morris, and you're listening to the Morning Edition from The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. Today, senior writer Bevan Shields on human composting, a method of burial that may give you the ick, but that is giving many others profound peace of mind. It's June the 22nd. Bevan, welcome back to the podcast.
Bevan Shields· Guest0:53
Always a pleasure to talk to you.
Samantha Selinger-Morris· Host0:55
Okay, Bevan, we've got to get into this 'cause there's a growing trend overseas in human burial, and this is human composting. Now, is it like it says? Is it, is it like it sounds?
Bevan Shields· Guest1:06
It is. You know, for so long- Okay ... we have really only had two options, burial or cremation. This is a third option that has emerged in the US and Germany, and as you say, it's growing in popularity, and it's exactly as it sounds. So when I've been talking to people about this story for the last, past few weeks, the initial instinct is,