STEM与日常科技·英语30篇（2）
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How Waste Sorting Powers Cities Through Incineration
垃圾分类与焚烧发电
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Modern waste-to-energy plants first sort trash to remove metals, glass, and hazardous materials that could damage equipment.
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The remaining combustible waste — mostly paper, plastics, and food scraps — is dried and fed into high-temperature furnaces.
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Heat from burning waste boils water, producing steam that spins turbines connected to electricity generators.
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One ton of properly sorted municipal waste can generate about 500–700 kilowatt-hours of clean electricity.
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Advanced filters capture over 99% of acid gases, dioxins, and fine particles before exhaust enters the atmosphere.
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Ash left behind is tested for heavy metals; safe fractions are used in road construction, while toxic residues are safely landfilled.
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Sorting at home reduces contamination, making combustion more efficient and lowering emissions per kilowatt generated.
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In countries like Sweden and Japan, over 90% of non-recyclable waste is incinerated, supplying district heating and power.
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Unlike landfills, these plants avoid methane release — a greenhouse gas 25 times stronger than CO₂ over 100 years.
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Still, experts stress that reducing and reusing waste always comes before burning it — energy recovery is the last step.