What is the primary purpose of incineration as a waste disposal method?

Incineration serves as a waste disposal method primarily through the process of burning waste materials at high temperatures. This high-temperature burning not only reduces the volume of waste significantly, often by as much as 90%, but also helps to minimize the mass of the waste that must be managed. Incineration also generates energy, which can be harnessed for electricity or heat, thereby adding a useful component to what would otherwise be considered merely a waste disposal process.

While recycling, landfilling, and composting are all valid waste management strategies, they have different objectives from incineration. Recycling focuses on repurposing materials, landfills are used for long-term waste storage, and composting aims to convert organic waste into nutrient-rich soil amendments. Each method has its own benefits and applications depending on the types of waste and regional regulations, but the unique function of incineration lies specifically in its ability to combust waste efficiently, transforming it into ash and gases, while significantly reducing its physical volume.