Natural burials 'more harmful' to environment

Natural burials will be more harmful to the environment than conventional burials because of the types of diseases and chemicals carried in humans, says a Nelson funeral director.

Francis Day, of Marsden House Funeral Services, told the Nelson City Council on Thursday during a hearing on its cemeteries bylaw that "putrefaction" of a body that was not embalmed created soil toxicity to levels which in many places would breach World Health Organisation standards.

Natural burials involve returning a body to the earth to decompose and be recycled naturally.

"Marsden Valley, for example, would not qualify under WHO regulations because of the water table in the area," Mr Day said.

 A body had to be buried 1m above a water table and needed 1m of cover.

Mr Day said that despite what people might think about the risks of formaldehyde, there was more of it in clothing than in embalming fluid.

"What I am saying is, be careful about natural burials because there is potential for disease," he warned councillors.

Mr Day said outside the meeting that diseases and bacteria did not die when a body was buried, and natural burials would "put future communities at risk".

He said his stance was not related to protecting his business.

Mr Day said it cost an average of $7500 for a conventional funeral.

Lynda Hannah, the director of Living Legacies, a Motueka natural funeral company, said a natural burial cost around $2000 but some people had managed one for less than $1000.

She laughed when Mr Day's comments were relayed to her on Friday.

"He doesn't know what he's talking about."

Disease and bacteria died along with the body, she said. "There's no reason why bodies have to be embalmed."

Mr Day was among a number of people who made submissions on the bylaw on Thursday.

His argument was countered by suggestions from the pro-natural burial lobby, which is urging the council to follow the Tasman District Council's lead in opening the way for people to choose the natural option.

The Tasman council's community services committee recently agreed to set aside areas of Motueka cemetery, Rototai cemetery in Golden Bay and Spring Grove as natural burial parks.

Nelson man Peter Sutton said he believed that any contribution a decaying body could make to the natural environment should be encouraged.

"The idea they contribute nutrients to growing trees is very favourable.''

He said natural burials were increasingly favoured in Britain, the United States and various European countries.

Former Nelson city councillor Bob Straight told councillors he had a "personal aversion" to cemeteries and "wasteful expenditure'' on burials and cremations.

Council staff will prepare a report on natural burials, based on the number of comments received supporting the concept. It will also take into account the impact on the environment and public health.

- © Fairfax NZ News