Incineration
Incineration is a high temperature, dry oxidation process that reduces organic and combustible
waste to inorganic, incombustible matter and results in a significant reduction of
waste volume and weight. This process is usually selected to treat wastes that cannot be
recycled, reused, or disposed of in a landfill site.
The combustion of organic compounds produces mainly gaseous emissions, including
steam, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and certain toxic substances (e.g., metals, halogen
acids), and particulate matter, plus solid residues in the form of ashes. If the conditions
of combustion are not properly controlled, toxic carbon monoxide also will be
produced. The ash and wastewater produced by the process also contain toxic compounds,
which have to be treated to avoid adverse effects on health and the environment.
Most large, modern incinerators include energy recovery facilities. In cold climates,
steam or hot water from incinerators can be used to feed urban district heating systems,
and in warmer climates the steam from incinerators is used to generate electricity. The
heat recovered from small hospital incinerators is used for preheating of waste to be burnt.