A problem you hadn't thought of

Monday, 4 March 2024 06:30

There’s a problem in the cemeteries in Geneva. We’re burying bodies too deep.

Laws in French speaking cantons vary – in canton Vaud they must be one meter 20 deep – and in Jura one meter 80.

But Vincent Varlet – the head of the taphonomy* unit for French speaking Switzerland - says it’s too deep for efficient decomposition.

He says there isn’t enough bacteria at that depth, and bodies should be buried shallower.

The City of Geneva is already aware of the problem and plans to increase soil ventilation in its cemeteries.

*the study of decomposition.

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