Incineration

[bandraoi]

So is Incineration or Thermal Treatment as it's now known a good thing or a bad thing?

 

[Icanfix]

Just like everything else in life there are pros and cons to incineration.

It is the best way to sterilize.
It can break down some toxic waste compounds.
It has a good waste reduction ratio.
It may be possible for the combustion to produce enough heat so as not to require fuel.

The ash may be difficult to dispose of as it may be prone to leaching toxic compounds.
Scrubbing the exhaust is becoming more expensive and difficult.

 

[PBroad]

Done properly under the direction of a PE there should be no difference. See Ontario Canada MOE report

http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/techdocs/3795e01.pdf

However, using landfill as a burn site will release choride gases and if wet garbage is dumped in a land fill you'll get a leachate plume. Modern (European technology) prevents this but hasn't caught on much in North America that still dump and covers.see

http://www.environmental-expert.com/technology/tegenvironmental/TEG brochure.pdf

The danger to the public is that all too often that engineers are excluded or that engineers aspire to sexier topics.

 

[wwchick]

I believe that the incineration option has been complicated by the Clean Air Act and just not worth the paperwork or potential fines.