Which method of disposal is characterized by the thermal destruction of waste material?

The method of disposal characterized by the thermal destruction of waste material is incineration. This process involves combustion, where waste is burned at high temperatures, effectively reducing it to ash, gas, and heat. Incineration helps in diminishing the volume of waste significantly, and it can also generate energy through the heat produced during combustion. This method is particularly useful for treating hazardous healthcare waste, as it can destroy pathogens and toxic substances that may pose a risk to public health and the environment.

Other disposal methods do not involve this thermal destruction process. For instance, inertization entails mixing waste with binding materials to safely encapsulate it, landfilling involves burying waste in designated areas, and safe burial typically refers to the secure placement of waste underground without the burning process. Each of these alternatives serves a different purpose but lacks the burning mechanism that characterizes incineration.