1. Compositing
It is a process of controlled decomposition of biodegradable organic wastes such as food and yard wastes, into humus. It is nature’s way of recycling organic waste dens, where it provides nutrients and increases beneficial soil organisms. It also suppress certain plant diseases, reduces the need for fertilizers and pesticides and protects soil from erosion.
2. Incineration
It is a controlled burning process to reduce waste volume. Combustors when properly equipped can also convert waste into steam for heating systems or generation of electricity. Burning waste at extremely high temperatures also destroys disease causing bacteria and breaks down many harmful chemical compounds. Incinerators routinely emit dioxins, furans and polychlorinated bi-phenyls (PCB), which causes cancer and damages the endocrine system. Toxins such as mercury and heavy metals are also released. The better air pollution control works through scrubbers and filters, the more pollutants are trapped in water and on land and problem of safe disposal of these and the bulk of the incinerators ash remains.
A variety of pollution control technologies reduce the toxicity of the incinerator smoke. Among these are scrubbers that use liquid sprays to neutralize the acidic gases and filters which remove particulate matter from the smoke prior to its release into the atmosphere.