Hazardous Waste Incineration: A Progress Report

Safe, effective treatment of hazardous wastes has emerged as a national priority. Advances in technology and testing methods have increased credibility and public acceptance of incineration as a means of destroying chemical wastes. The incineration process, a high temperature oxidation reaction, offers many advantages over other methods of treatment. The quantity of the waste is immediately reduced to a fraction of its original state and toxicity is greatly reduced or eliminated. Existing technology can achieve essentially complete destruction of even the most hazarous materials while effectively controlling emissions to the atmosphere for minimal environmental impact. Incineration requires a relatively small process area; wastes often can be treated at or near the site of generation. While capital and operating costs are high in comparison to other means of disposal, they often can be offset by some form of heat or metals recovery.