Pros
■ Released heat energy can be used to generate electricity.
■ Incineration reduces the impact on landfills.
■ Mass burning is inexpensive.
■ What is left is 10%–20% of the original volume.Cons
■ Air pollution, including cadmium, lead, mercury, NOx, SO 2 , and
chemicals that accumulate in fat cells, is carcinogenic, and these
chemicals degrade very slowly in the environment (e.g., polychlorinated
biphenyls [PCBs] and dioxins).
■ Sorting out noncombustible items, such as batteries and plastics, is
expensive.
■ There is no way of knowing the toxic consequences.
■ Ash is more concentrated with toxic materials.
■ Initial costs of incinerators are high.
■ This process adds to acid deposition and global warming.COMPOSTING
Composting is a natural biological process that is carried out under controlled
aerobic conditions. In this process, various microorganisms, including bacteria
and fungi, break down or biodegrade organic matter (e.g., food waste, manure,
leaves, paper, wood, crop residues, etc.) into simpler substances and turn it into a
valuable organic fertilizer.
Pros
■ Composting creates nutrient-rich soil additives.
■ Composting aids in water retention.
■ Composting slows down soil erosion.
■ No major toxic issues arise from composting.Cons