Human composting is a new technique for the disposal of the dead in which the body of the deceased is broken down in a compost heap of plant material, in a closed container. This technique is currently allowed abroad to a limited extent as an alternative to burial or cremation. The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) has asked the Health Council of the Netherlands to assess whether human composting is admissible in the Netherlands.
The Health Council advises not to admit human composting yet because there is insufficient data on safety and sustainability. This applies to both the technique and the human remains that are left after the composting process has been completed. The council recommends making it possible to conduct research into new techniques for the disposal of the dead, so that these techniques can be better assessed in the future. According to the council, legislation should also be introduced for the handling of the human remains.
The ministry has also asked the council to update the previous advice on alkaline hydrolysis from 2020, based on new data. For this technique for the disposal of the dead, the body of the deceased is dissolved in a liquid. In 2020, the council concluded that alkaline hydrolysis met the conditions for admissibility. The council sees no reason to revise this advice.