eli5: How is burning waste less harmful than letting nature decompose of it?

Question

I understand that certain substances such as sodium hydroxide, acetone, batterys, plastic and even aluminum are harmful but trash is already being separated quite well in first world countries. So how is burning biological waste more effective? Or is it just easier?

I seek an actual explanation, not yes/no.

Thanks for your knowledge in advance.

In: 5

Answer 1

Biological communal waste will not make high quality expensive compost, so composting won’t bring one profit. Sometimes compost may even accidently end up polluted, so you will have extra costs not profit. Getting electricity and heat from burning such waste might be profitable, or at least cheaper than composting.