# Why can't we just incinerate our garbage and collect ALL the residue?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-just-incinerate-our-garbage-and-collect-all-the-residue/180929>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 10, 2003, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-just-incinerate-our-garbage-and-collect-all-the-residue/180929 "2003-06-10T18:28:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-just-incinerate-our-garbage-and-collect-all-the-residue/180929/21 "2003-06-11T13:46:18Z")

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The ash can be used as an ingredient for concrete.

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**Author:** ![alimarx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@alimarx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alimarx)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-just-incinerate-our-garbage-and-collect-all-the-residue/180929/22 "2003-06-11T16:28:18Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Jomo Mojo \*  
> \*\*Put it on a cargo rocket and set the controls for the heart of the sun. \*\*

…or what if we just bury the stuff _deeper_ ? Under the mantle somewhere. Wouldn’t that effectively recycle the mass?

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**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-just-incinerate-our-garbage-and-collect-all-the-residue/180929/23 "2003-06-11T16:59:20Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> **Put it on a cargo rocket and set the controls for the heart of the sun.**

And what do we do with the exhaust? You can’t put filters or scrubbers on rocket engines…

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**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-just-incinerate-our-garbage-and-collect-all-the-residue/180929/24 "2003-06-11T17:52:12Z")

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Incinerator Ash is often considered a “hazardous waste” because of heavy metals, such as lead. The ash must be tested often to see whether or not it’s safe to go to a normal (lined) landfill. If it tests hazardous, then it’s treated as a hazardous waste, which is VERY expensive to dispose of.

Here’s a [link](http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/disposal.htm) to the EPA’s website on municipal waste disposal.

Also, the State of Florida, which operates several municipal waste incinerators, has noticed an increase of hazardous lead in soil near the incinerators.

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**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-just-incinerate-our-garbage-and-collect-all-the-residue/180929/25 "2003-06-11T18:55:32Z")

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Check out this article on thermal depolymerization: [http://www.discover.com/may\_03/gthere.html?article=featoil.html](http://www.discover.com/may_03/gthere.html?article=featoil.html)

It is a process to break down the molecular bonds of material to convert it into oil, useful gasses, and minerals.

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