What is Incineration?

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.