The Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee will conclude its work in March 2026 ahead of the next Scottish Parliament election. While it will continue to meet, the Committee has agreed it will not consider petitions submitted after 10 October. This is to ensure all petitions currently in the system can be considered before the next Scottish Parliament election. It is also unlikely that the Committee would be able to schedule and meaningfully progress petitions submitted after 10 October before the election. Contact the Committee team at petitions.committee@parliament.scot for more information about the petitions process.
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Under consideration PE2084: Allow alkaline hydrolysis
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to amend the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 to allow alkaline hydrolysis, accelerated composting and other more eco-friendly methods of disposal of human cadavers.
Previous action taken
I wrote to my MSP, David Torrance MSP, who then wrote to the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government replied stating that they were going to consult on this in 2023. Then nothing happened.
Background information
Graveyards are filling up, more will be needed. Good quality land is being "sterilised" from productive use.
Cremation uses energy and produces toxic fumes, ash and CO2.
Alkaline hydrolysis and accelerated composting both produce inert by-product and allow for the recovery of medical implants and the safe disposal of mercury amalgam filled teeth.
26 signatures
This petition is now under consideration
Click here for further information about the consideration of this petition.