Supposedly dissolution in lye is more environmentally benign than cremation. But really -- they bring up mercury in fillings going up the stack--so take out the teeth! And carbon dioxide? As if no energy was consumed in producing lye, and then in operating the pressure cooker used to speed the dissolving process. And as if cremation is a meaningful contributor to the sum total of environmental problems.
The article refers to a brownish, syrupy residue, which is flushed down the drain. Hard to see any ritual incorporating that procedure. And this residue isn't like the ashes that you get from cremation; it's some kind of hydrolysis product, so it's filled with amino acids and other organic molecules, as well as lots of inorganics. How long before someone sees value in the product and tries to commercialize it? Maybe isolate the most valuable components. Or just make glue out of it. Imagine Charlton Heston's voice: "Elmer's glue is people!!!"