Incineration is a method of processing waste at high temperatures and removing pollutants such as chemical solvents, sulfur dioxide, polychlorinated, biphenyls and pesticides that harm people and the environment. Incinerators must function properly and comply with stringent environmental regulations to minimize emission of dangerous poisons and carcinogens. Homemade trash incinerators in backyards also contribute to air, soil and water pollution, which is why the Department of Natural Resources strongly discourages them. Properly handled incineration of industrial chemicals and household waste involves feeding waste into a combustion chamber and burning it at extremely high temperatures, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Contaminants that aren’t immediately destroyed enter a secondary chamber where the materials are reheated, and the gasses produced are filtered to remove particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and other pollutants. The EPA requires incinerators eliminate at least 99.99 percent of the toxins present during waste processing. Ash residue left in the combustion chamber generally is taken to a hazardous-waste landfill. Incinerating waste from hospitals, clinics and laboratories poses special challenges. In addition to organic waste such as paper and cardboard, medical waste includes things such as bloody bandages, plastic tubing, biohazard bags, needles, surgical instruments and animal carcasses. High levels of carcinogenic dioxin are produced by burning plastic and paper together. The EPA also notes that medical waste incineration produces significant quantities of polluting emissions such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead, mercury, arsenic, sulfur, methane and soot. Living near a medical waste incinerator can expose residents to noxious odors and dangerous pollutants.

To sum up, various alternatives can be practiced against it,

Complying with state and federal pollution laws can be difficult and costly, prompting many businesses to consider more environmentally friendly, waste-management methods. For example, many hospitals have shut down their incinerators, as reported in a 2008 article in "The Chicago Tribune." To reduce waste, hospitals are using autoclaves, microwave devices and other technologies to sterilize and reuse supplies; trash is transported to EPA-compliant disposal facilities. Special-interests groups such as the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives advocate for expanded recycling programs to keep paper, glass and plastics out of incinerators and landfills where pollution can result.

Reference: Google