What is Incineration?
Incineration is the controlled combustion of waste materials at high temperatures to reduce their volume and mass. This process converts waste into ash, flue gases, and heat, which can sometimes be recovered for energy generation, but it also produces emissions that require careful management.
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Incineration is often used for municipal solid waste, hazardous waste, and medical waste to minimize landfill use and destroy pathogens or toxic substances. Related terms include waste-to-energy, which captures heat for electricity or heating, and thermal treatment, which broadly covers high-temperature waste processing methods. While incineration reduces waste volume, it can release pollutants such as dioxins, furans, and particulate matter if not properly controlled, making regulatory oversight and modern emission control technologies essential.