While it can reduce the volume of waste and generate energy, it can also have negative environmental impacts. Burning waste releases pollutants into the air, which can harm human health and the environment. Additionally, toxic ash is left behind after incineration, which requires special handling and disposal.

Why Use Incineration? Incineration can destroy a wide range of highly contaminated wastes and greatly reduce the amount of material that must be disposed of in a landfill. For small contaminated areas, excavation and transport to an offsite incinerator can be a quick cleanup approach.

Incineration is a key process in the treatment of hazardous wastes and clinical wastes. It is often imperative that medical waste be subjected to the high temperatures of incineration to destroy pathogens and toxic contamination it contains.

The significant pollutants emitted are particulate matter, metals, acid gases, oxides of nitrogen, and sulfur, aside from the release of innumerable substances of unknown toxicity. This process of waste incineration poses a significant threat to public health and the environment.