What happens to waste after incineration in a waste incinerator?

What happens to waste after incineration in a waste incinerator?
After incineration, waste is primarily converted into ash, flue gas, and heat. Ash, being much smaller in volume than the original waste, is typically sent to a landfill, while flue gas is treated to remove pollutants before being released into the atmosphere. The heat generated during incineration can be recovered and used to generate electricity or for other energy needs.

Heat can be recovered and used to generate electricity or for other energy needs.

Heat can be further classified as follows:

Ash:
Incineration reduces the volume of waste by converting it into ash. Ash can be divided into bottom ash (the solid residue remaining after combustion) and fly ash (the fine particulate matter carried in the flue gas).

Flue gas:
The gases produced during incineration, called flue gas, contain pollutants such as particulate matter and acid gases. These gases undergo treatment processes such as filtration and neutralization before being released into the atmosphere.

Heat:
The heat generated during incineration can be used to generate electricity, a process often referred to as waste-to-energy.

Ash management:
Depending on the composition of the ash and local regulations, the ash may be sent to a landfill, recycled, or further processed. Some of the ashes can be used for construction or other purposes after proper treatment.